En masse RU recruitment & Murders Of Prof Taher & Prof Yunus
Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 940
Sat. January 20, 2007
Editorial
En masse recruitment at RU
Tainted with 'political consideration'
As many as 200 fourth class staff have allegedly been recruited by the Rajshahi University within a span of last three days. Not only that, the motive and the process that have led to their recruitment have been, to say the least, opaque. To top it all, the authorities are set to be planning to recruit yet another 800 within a short period of time. Senior teachers of the university have expressed their concern over the fact that as many as 1500 job seekers thronging the university's administration building on a daily basis is affecting the overall academic atmosphere of the university.
We also note with deep concern, as voiced by a Syndicate member of the university, that the appointments are certain to overshoot the budgetary allocations of the current fiscal year. The University Grants Commission only recently warned the RU authorities of stopping allocation of funds. Even no less than the Treasurer of the University in a letter to the Vice Chancellor expressed his concern saying that already Tk 18 crore has been spent during the first quarter of this fiscal as against the total allocation of Tk 52.04 crore for this fiscal year.
We cannot help being concerned about the developments in the recruitment process at the Rajshahi University. Besides the budgetary factor, also of serious concern is the allegation that the appointments were being mostly made on 'political considerations' of candidates belonging to the student bodies of former ruling coalition. While politicisation of the overall management and administration of our public universities has become a rather regular feature, it must be said that the situation at the Rajshahi University is perhaps one of the worst.
Corruption, material or otherwise, has already infiltrated into every sphere of the society. However, its prevalence in educational institutions is the least desirable.
The Report
http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/01/17/d70117011811.htm
Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 937
Wed. January 17, 2007
Front Page
200 staff recruited at RU in 3 daysMove to appoint 800, mostly BNP-Jamaat menStaff Correspondent, Rajshahi Rajshahi University (RU) authorities have appointed some 200 third and fourth-class employees in the last three days largely on political considerations ignoring the budgetary provisions of the university.
Sources said the authorities have planned to recruit a total of 800 staff within a short time and most of them are likely to be picked from BNP and Jamaat adherents.
There are allegations of widespread bribing in the recruitment process, the sources added.
Some 1500 job seekers, mostly political activists, are thronging the administrative building regularly, which is affecting the academic atmosphere greatly, senior RU teachers and officials alleged.
Influential BNP and Jamaat leaders including former lawmakers and their supporter teachers and student leaders have been making brisk money amounting to several crores of taka in exchange of assuring varsity jobs, many candidates alleged.
Rajshahi city mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu, Motihar upazila BNP president Ansar Ali, secretary Mukhtar Hossain and BNP-Jamaat adherent ward commissioners Monwara Begum and Gias Uddin have lobbied for many candidates, several aspirants told The Daily Star.
Many of the political candidates from Meherchandi, Budpara, Dharampur, Kajla, and Binodpur were chosen on condition that they would work for BNP-Jamaat in the upcoming election. Some influential RU teachers have also registered their nominations with the selection board members, sources said.
"The instances of cashing in on the recruitment are alarming and the controversial appointments beyond budget will turn the institution into a white elephant soon, leading the government to stop grants," RU syndicate member Prof Abdus Sobhan said.
The RU authorities flouted legal procedures and confirmed the job of 544 employees in 2004 that created long-lasting chaos in the university.
Meanwhile, the University Grants Commission (UGC) recently threatened RU of stopping allocation of funds since the authority was increasing its budget deficit by 'unnecessarily' recruiting manpower.
RU Treasurer Abdul Jabbar Khan in a letter to the vice chancellor (VC) told that already Tk 18 crore had been spent in first four months of the current fiscal year against the annual allocation of Tk 52.40 crore on salaries.
"If this unnatural rate of escalating expenditure on salaries continues, the university will be dipped in financial adversity shortly making payment of the regular staffs uncertain," the letter reads.
Contacted, RU Vice-Chancellor Prof Altaf Hossain and pro-VC Prof Mamnunul Keramat said that they were 'ill' and refused to talk.
"We will seek extra funds from UGC for fresh recruitment and it will be granted...there should not be any problem," RU Registrar Abdus Salam said adding that the UGC is generally lenient.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/01/17/d70117011811.htm
Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 937
Wed. January 17, 2007
Front Page
200 staff recruited at RU in 3 daysMove to appoint 800, mostly BNP-Jamaat menStaff Correspondent, Rajshahi Rajshahi University (RU) authorities have appointed some 200 third and fourth-class employees in the last three days largely on political considerations ignoring the budgetary provisions of the university.
Sources said the authorities have planned to recruit a total of 800 staff within a short time and most of them are likely to be picked from BNP and Jamaat adherents.
There are allegations of widespread bribing in the recruitment process, the sources added.
Some 1500 job seekers, mostly political activists, are thronging the administrative building regularly, which is affecting the academic atmosphere greatly, senior RU teachers and officials alleged.
Influential BNP and Jamaat leaders including former lawmakers and their supporter teachers and student leaders have been making brisk money amounting to several crores of taka in exchange of assuring varsity jobs, many candidates alleged.
Rajshahi city mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu, Motihar upazila BNP president Ansar Ali, secretary Mukhtar Hossain and BNP-Jamaat adherent ward commissioners Monwara Begum and Gias Uddin have lobbied for many candidates, several aspirants told The Daily Star.
Many of the political candidates from Meherchandi, Budpara, Dharampur, Kajla, and Binodpur were chosen on condition that they would work for BNP-Jamaat in the upcoming election. Some influential RU teachers have also registered their nominations with the selection board members, sources said.
"The instances of cashing in on the recruitment are alarming and the controversial appointments beyond budget will turn the institution into a white elephant soon, leading the government to stop grants," RU syndicate member Prof Abdus Sobhan said.
The RU authorities flouted legal procedures and confirmed the job of 544 employees in 2004 that created long-lasting chaos in the university.
Meanwhile, the University Grants Commission (UGC) recently threatened RU of stopping allocation of funds since the authority was increasing its budget deficit by 'unnecessarily' recruiting manpower.
RU Treasurer Abdul Jabbar Khan in a letter to the vice chancellor (VC) told that already Tk 18 crore had been spent in first four months of the current fiscal year against the annual allocation of Tk 52.40 crore on salaries.
"If this unnatural rate of escalating expenditure on salaries continues, the university will be dipped in financial adversity shortly making payment of the regular staffs uncertain," the letter reads.
Contacted, RU Vice-Chancellor Prof Altaf Hossain and pro-VC Prof Mamnunul Keramat said that they were 'ill' and refused to talk.
"We will seek extra funds from UGC for fresh recruitment and it will be granted...there should not be any problem," RU Registrar Abdus Salam said adding that the UGC is generally lenient.
The Murder Of Prof Taher & Prof Yunus
Wed. January 17, 2007
National
Murder Of Prof Taher, Prof Yunus At RuFamilies turn to CG for justice, 'denied' by elected govt
Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi
Family members of slain Rajshahi University professors Dr S Taher Ahmed and Muhammad Yunus yesterday urged the caretaker government headed by Dr Faruddin Ahmed to take steps to ensure fair and speedy trial of the sensational murders, saying investigations were stalled during the previous elected government on political considerations.
The prime suspects in the gruesome murders managed to get bail from High Court (HC) and were freed from jail as police delayed submission of charge sheets, they alleged.
Taher's son Sanjid Alvi Ahmed told newsmen that police high-ups did 'not allow submission of charge sheet in the murder case to save criminals belonging to Jamaat-Shibir'.
Prof Taher, teacher of Geology and Mining Department, was missing on February 1 last year. His body was found on February 3 in the morning inside a sewer behind his campus residence. Quoting a police report, Sanjid said Rajshahi police completed investigation into Prof Taher murder in May last year and sought permission from home ministry to press charges. But they were not allowed.
"I met present IGP (Inspector General of Police) Khoda Bux Chowdhury several times when he was in charge of the monitoring cell for sensational cases. He always reasoned that the case lacked a key-witness".
In the meantime, mastermind suspect in the murder RU Islami Chhatra Shibir president Mahbubul Alam Salehi who was avoiding arrest managed anticipatory bail from HC. Another prime suspect --Prof Mia Muhammad Mohiuddin-- was also released from jail on bail.
Four persons-- Zahangir, Salam, Nazmul, and alleged mastermind Prof Mia Muhammad Mohiuddin--were arrested within a week of the murder in February last year.
Three of the arrestees provided judicial confessions and five among the 43 witnesses gave judicial statements proving that Mohiuddin and Salehi were involved in the murder done by Zahangir, Salam and Nazmul for their personal and political gains, Sanjid said.
"How many witnesses and evidences the killers can leave in a murder?" Taher's wife Sultana Ahmed posed the question amid tears.
Meanwhile, former Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Naim Ahmed (who was abused by Jamaat-Shibir leaders in meetings for proving Salehi's involvement) was transferred after he told the media that he was ready to press charges.
Investigation officer of the case, while seeking a property attachment order fgrom court on March 8 last year told the court that police have evidences that Salehi was directly involved in the murder.
"He (Salehi) went into hiding to avoid arrest. Charges will be pressed against him", the IO had told the court.
Yunus Murder Case Prof Yunus, teacher of Economic Department, was murdered on December 24, 2004, when he was on a morning walk near the university.
Rashed Zaman Shovon, son of Prof Yunus said, "Something peculiar is happening with investigation of my father's murder".
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) already brushed aside previous police findings that Shibir was involvement in the killing. It blamed militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh (JMB), he said.
The CID informed Rajshahi Metropolitan Magistrate court that JMB Rajshahi zonal commander Shafiullah Tarik while giving judicial statement on April 13 last year on a bomb blast case in Joydevpur, said JMB was involved in Prof Yunus murder. But the JMB militants arrested in this connection denied their involvement, said Shovon.
Five arrested Shibir cadres including former Binodhpur Shibir president Sirajus Salekin and Zillur Rahman, close aides to absconding Shibir cadre and an accused in the case--Zafar Babu--were freed on bail later.
Despite the confessions, police are yet to submit charge sheet, Shovon regretted.
Two eyewitnesses in separate statements narrated the murder of Prof Yunus by a gang of four and police said the statements were substantiated by some other circumstances and witnesses.
Witness rickshaw-van puller Zahangir Ali in his January 5, 2005 statement said that he could identify only Shibir cadre Zafar Babu of Satbaria among four killers. Police attached properties of Zafar Babu on this statement.
Another witness rickshaw-puller Shahidul Islam Babu on May 8, 2005 said he could identify Zillur Rahman, a RU guard.
He also stated that Zillur threatened him (Babu) with death and drove him away as he was watching the murder.
The prime suspects in the gruesome murders managed to get bail from High Court (HC) and were freed from jail as police delayed submission of charge sheets, they alleged.
Taher's son Sanjid Alvi Ahmed told newsmen that police high-ups did 'not allow submission of charge sheet in the murder case to save criminals belonging to Jamaat-Shibir'.
Prof Taher, teacher of Geology and Mining Department, was missing on February 1 last year. His body was found on February 3 in the morning inside a sewer behind his campus residence. Quoting a police report, Sanjid said Rajshahi police completed investigation into Prof Taher murder in May last year and sought permission from home ministry to press charges. But they were not allowed.
"I met present IGP (Inspector General of Police) Khoda Bux Chowdhury several times when he was in charge of the monitoring cell for sensational cases. He always reasoned that the case lacked a key-witness".
In the meantime, mastermind suspect in the murder RU Islami Chhatra Shibir president Mahbubul Alam Salehi who was avoiding arrest managed anticipatory bail from HC. Another prime suspect --Prof Mia Muhammad Mohiuddin-- was also released from jail on bail.
Four persons-- Zahangir, Salam, Nazmul, and alleged mastermind Prof Mia Muhammad Mohiuddin--were arrested within a week of the murder in February last year.
Three of the arrestees provided judicial confessions and five among the 43 witnesses gave judicial statements proving that Mohiuddin and Salehi were involved in the murder done by Zahangir, Salam and Nazmul for their personal and political gains, Sanjid said.
"How many witnesses and evidences the killers can leave in a murder?" Taher's wife Sultana Ahmed posed the question amid tears.
Meanwhile, former Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Naim Ahmed (who was abused by Jamaat-Shibir leaders in meetings for proving Salehi's involvement) was transferred after he told the media that he was ready to press charges.
Investigation officer of the case, while seeking a property attachment order fgrom court on March 8 last year told the court that police have evidences that Salehi was directly involved in the murder.
"He (Salehi) went into hiding to avoid arrest. Charges will be pressed against him", the IO had told the court.
Yunus Murder Case Prof Yunus, teacher of Economic Department, was murdered on December 24, 2004, when he was on a morning walk near the university.
Rashed Zaman Shovon, son of Prof Yunus said, "Something peculiar is happening with investigation of my father's murder".
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) already brushed aside previous police findings that Shibir was involvement in the killing. It blamed militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh (JMB), he said.
The CID informed Rajshahi Metropolitan Magistrate court that JMB Rajshahi zonal commander Shafiullah Tarik while giving judicial statement on April 13 last year on a bomb blast case in Joydevpur, said JMB was involved in Prof Yunus murder. But the JMB militants arrested in this connection denied their involvement, said Shovon.
Five arrested Shibir cadres including former Binodhpur Shibir president Sirajus Salekin and Zillur Rahman, close aides to absconding Shibir cadre and an accused in the case--Zafar Babu--were freed on bail later.
Despite the confessions, police are yet to submit charge sheet, Shovon regretted.
Two eyewitnesses in separate statements narrated the murder of Prof Yunus by a gang of four and police said the statements were substantiated by some other circumstances and witnesses.
Witness rickshaw-van puller Zahangir Ali in his January 5, 2005 statement said that he could identify only Shibir cadre Zafar Babu of Satbaria among four killers. Police attached properties of Zafar Babu on this statement.
Another witness rickshaw-puller Shahidul Islam Babu on May 8, 2005 said he could identify Zillur Rahman, a RU guard.
He also stated that Zillur threatened him (Babu) with death and drove him away as he was watching the murder.
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