Islamic Arabic University: The VC a law unto himself?

The vice-chancellor of Islamic Arabic University seems to have made a habit of ignoring the law and regulations whenever it comes to appointing officials.

Legally, the VC cannot appoint anyone on his own.

However, Prof Mohammad Ahsan Ullah has recruited more people than stipulated in the university's recruiting advertisements throughout his seven-year tenure so far.

A probe by the University Grants Commission found that many appointment-related papers were "doctored".

The probe committee, in its report sent to the education ministry recently, recommended removing Ahsan Ullah from the post of VC of the university, which oversees graduation and post-graduation courses of madrasas.

It suggested the cancellation of several appointments, terming those "void ab initio", meaning they have no legal effect from the inception of the job.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Prof Biswajit Chanda, UGC member and chief of the probe committee, said, "We have sent our report to the ministry."

He declined to make further comments.

Contacted, Abu Bakr Siddique, secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, "We are analysing the report and will take action in line with the recommendations made."

He too would not elaborate on the matter.

Founded in 2013, the affiliating university oversees over 1,300 fazil and kamil madrasas.

Ahsan Ullah, a Chattogram University professor, was appointed the VC on January 4, 2015, and then reappointed for a second term in January 2019.

The UGC launched its first round of investigations last year, after receiving complaints of irregularities in the university management.

The education ministry then formed a second committee, headed by Biswajit Chanda, for further probe.

According to the probe report, a copy of which was obtained by The Daily Star, "Illegal and unethical activities and corruption of the current vice-chancellor of the Islamic Arabic University has tarnished the image of the university to such a level that it is not possible to maintain smooth academic and administrative activities by retaining him as vice-chancellor.

"So, Prof Ahsan Ullah should be immediately removed from the post…."

Though the Islamic Arabic University Act 2013 does not give the VC the authority to appoint anyone temporarily, Ahsan Ullah appointed one Jakir Hossain as the university's assistant registrar on a temporary basis in February 2015.

Then in January 2019, he gave Jakir permanent appointment to the post after issuing a recruitment advertisement of his own accord.

He had done all this without the approval of the university syndicate, which, according to the law, is responsible for appointing officers and employees and determining their duties, terms and other conditions of services.

Moreover, Jakir Hossain did not have the required work experience for the position and had a third division in his educational degrees.

"The appointment is void ab initio, and so it is recommended that Jakir Hossain be relieved from the post," the report read.

The VC had also illegally appointed one Abu Hanifa to the post of deputy registrar.

According to the probe report, the photocopy of the recommendation of the selection board for appointment seemed to have been tampered with and there were no main copies of the documents.

It added Hanifa served as acting registrar several times and, according to the testimony of a former registrar, Ahsan Ullah used to keep all confidential and important official documents with him.

"Therefore, the responsibility of said tampering also falls on Hanifa. So, it is recommended that such a dishonest person, who was illegally appointed, be immediately removed from the university."

On the other hand, the probe report also said appointments of Fahad Ahmad Momtazi as assistant registrar and Ziaur Rahman as assistant director of Planning and Development, as well as the recruitment of section officers, assistant programmers and others, through a revised recruitment circular issued on May 24, 2018, and the 10th syndicate meeting of December 12, 2018, were illegal.

It reasoned that there was a breach of law as it appears that the photocopy of the recommendation of the selection board for appointment was tampered with; the minimum prescribed qualification was not approved by the syndicate; some aspirants who were on the merit list were left out during the recruitment process; and aspirants from lower down the merit list were appointed.

The probe report added that 58 aspirants were appointed section officers against the 41 positions mentioned in the recruitment advertisement.

Twenty-nine office assistants-cum-computer operators were appointed against the 16 advertised positions, while four assistant programmers were recruited against two advertised positions, and two audit officers were appointed against a single position.

Meanwhile, 31 office assistants were appointed against the 24 advertised positions.

The probe committee also recommended the cancellation of temporary appointments of teachers as the positions were not approved by the UGC. The report, however, did not mention the number of teachers.

A member of the probe committee said that at least five teachers were appointed, although the university has no academic departments.

The probe report made a special recommendation for further investigation by a special force of the government regarding all the allegations that range from financial irregularities to his involvement with Jamaat-e-Islami politics.

Contacted, Ahsan Ullah said he had not seen the UGC report and will not make any comments.

"I just want to say that all my work is done as per the university rules."