Shibir, JCD dominate in appointment of CU teachers

Of them, around 50 were appointed in defiance of the planning committee recommendation.

Moreover, syndicate at its meeting on May 10 appointed a private university student as lecturer in Computer Science department. The new appointee completed his graduation and post graduation from International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC) located at a small building at Chawkbazar area in the port city. The university is run by Jamaat-e-Islami, sources said.

Meanwhile, leaders of Chittagong University Teachers' Association (CUTA) called on Vice Chancellor Professor AJM Nuruddin Chowdhury at his office on Monday (May 24) to protest appointment of a private university student as teacher in Computer Science Department.

The CUTA leaders urged the VC not to repeat it in future to keep dignity of the university.

"It is very disgrace to us that a private university student has been appointed a teacher of public university, Chittagong University Teachers' Association General Secretary Professor Gazi Saleh Uddin said. This appointment is first of its kind in the history of 15 public universities in Bangladesh, he added."

Although, there were a number of candidates from Dhaka University and Shahjalal University with four first class with position in merit list of SSC and HSC examinations.

But the university authorities reportedly on direction from the Jamaat high command chose the IIUC student as he was a Shibir activist during his student life.

CUTA is likely to launch a movement protesting the appointment after its next executive committee meeting, Prof Gazi Saleh said.

On the other hand, the authorities appointed a lecturer in political science department three months back though he had no first class in honours and masters degree. The new appointee is reportedly a Shibir cadre and an accused in Faruk killing case. Faruk was killed allegedly by the Shibir cadres on campus in 1990. Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) even had launched a movement demanding cancellation of his appointment as several qualified candidates with first class were there.

Of the total 90 appointees, 65 belong to Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) and 20 are backed by JCD, said a pro-BNP teacher on condition of anonymity.

Additional teachers had been appointed in several departments ignoring advertisement for vacant posts.

Department of Statistics in an advertisement invited applications for two lecturers recently. But the department appointed four persons defying the planning committee decision. Of them, two were Shibir leaders during their student life.

Department of Geography appointed lecturers against the vacant posts of a professor and an associate professor.

Department of Zoology picked up three candidates, including two Islami Chhatri Sangstha leaders, against two lecturer posts.

Former CU Shibir president was appointed lecturer in Finance department.

Besides, two were appointed in Microbiology Department against one post, three in Public Administration against one post and three in Economics against one post defying the planning committee recommendation.

However, the authorities even after interview reportedly did not appoint three lecturers in Mathematics Department as there were no suitable candidates from Shibir or JCD, sources said. Though there were two candidates with M Phil degree with first class in both honours and master degree, the authorities dropped their names for not being the fellows of Shibir or JCD.

The Department of Anthropology appointed four lecturers on May 22 against the post of three that mentioned in the advertisement.

When contacted selection board member and chairman of the department Professor Dr. Ahmed Fazle Hasan Chowdhury said, "It has been done due to shortage of teachers." One of the appointees has been regularised while the three others are fresh.

Some pro-BNP senior teachers said that Vice Chancellor and the selection board are responsible for such appointments.

When contacted Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr M Shamsuddin said that he did not know anything regarding appointment of teachers. "Vice Chancellor is responsible for the appointments," he added.

Vice Chancellor Professor AJM Nuruddin Chowdhury while talking to The Daily Star refused to make any comment in this regard.