PUST teacher accuses VC of manipulating recruitment process

The chairman of the Mathematics department at Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) was allegedly assaulted when he tried to enter the recruitment board office regarding recruiting teachers in his own department today.

The assaulted teacher Professor Dr Harunur Rashid, also a member of the recruitment board, however, brought an allegation against the PUST vice chancellor for manipulating the test process and demanded to cancel the exam, during a press conference at Pabna Press Club this afternoon, reports our Pabna correspondent.

"As the department chairman, I became a member of the recruitment board for recruiting two teachers of my department. The registrar office issued notice to me on January 16 to attend the board, so I went to the recruitment board in the morning," Prof Rashid said at the time.

"As I was trying to enter the recruitment board, officials there forced me to leave the board as per the VC's direction. At one stage, a junior-level official assaulted me and forced me to leave the board," he alleged.

"I was assaulted so that the VC can recruit according to his choice," he said.

External teachers from the VC's own campus (Rajshahi University) conducted exams while no other teacher of the department attended in the written part," he added.

Earlier, few qualified candidates were rejected from the recruitment process according to the authority's choice, he alleged.

While talking to The Daily Star, PUST VC Professor Dr M Rostom Ali denied the allegation against him, saying that, "there is no irregularity in the recruitment process".

Asked about assaulting Prof Dr Harun, the VC claimed that his (Harun) wife is one of the candidates in the recruitment exam, so he was asked not to attend the recruitment board.

"He (Harun) was repeatedly requested for not attending recruitment board as it is unethical and questionable for the free and fair examination process. But he denied authority's decision," the VC said.

"Following the proper rule, we have completed the recruitment process and only three candidates have passed," the VC claimed.

Dr Harun, however, said he earlier submitted an official letter to the VC saying "if my relative goes for the viva, I will not be present in the question paper making, paper evaluation and even in viva".

"But they forced me out from the board," he said. He also claimed that the VC himself was present as the chairman of the recruitment board when his nephew was recruited as a section officer recently.

Denying the allegation, the VC however claimed his nephew was selected following proper procedure, there is no manipulation.