UGC probing allegation of Tk 8cr admission fees shared among JU teachers, officials

The University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have initiated an inquiry into allegations that the money collected from the candidates during admissions to Jahangirnagar University for the academic year 2019-20 was shared among teachers and officials.

A three-member team, led by UGC member Prof Dr Md Abu Taher, has held a meeting with the university administration at 12:30 pm today in the council room of the university's new administrative building, our JU correspondent reports.

The team includes Mostafizar Rahman, deputy director, Department of Finance and Accounts of UGC, and Md Ghulam Dostogir, senior assistant director, Department of Management of Public Universities.

According to university sources, the fees for undergraduate admission forms were increased by Tk 50 in the academic year 2019-20 at JU.

In that academic year, the total income of the university by selling admission forms was about Tk 20 crore. Of this, about Tk 10 crore was spent on conducting the exams and about Tk 2 crore was spent on other sectors. The remaining Tk 8 crore was allegedly shared among themselves by the teachers and officials, university sources said.

In view of this, on January 9, the UGC formed a three-member probe committee, and termed the sharing of entrance exam fees as "embezzlement of funds".

Head of the probe committee Prof Abu Taher, while talking to the media, said, "We have come to investigate specific allegations of irregularities and misappropriation of funds in the proceeds of the sale of admission forms.

"I would like to ask the registrar what was the income from the sale of admission forms in the first year of graduation in the academic year 2019-20? How much was the cost, the honorarium, and how much has been deposited in the university fund?"

"As per rules, 40 percent of the proceeds from selling admission forms has to be deposited in the university fund. The remaining 60 percent of the money has to be used to meet the overall expenses including examinations, preparation of question papers, moderation, printing, transportation, hospitalisation, law and order," he added.

"The investigation will determine whether Jahangirnagar University has done that or not," he added.