No RU Senate sessionheld in last 9 years
No Senate session was held at Rajshahi University (RU) in the last nine years although it is mandatory for the Senate members to assemble at least once a year. The Senate election was also not held in the last five years.
According to RU administration sources, the last Senate session was held in June 2001 and the last Senate election was held in February 2005. The two-year tenure of the Senate ended in 2007.
Sources said, the current administration seems indifferent to holding any Senate session and polls during its two-year tenure while the previous administration backed by BNP-Jamaat led government took no move during its tenure.
Important academic and administrative activities are being hampered for absence of Senate session, and holding of election, sources concerned said.
Several teachers of the university have raised questions over the legality of the administration as the university authorities are carrying out various activities without approval of Senate violating the University Act 1973.
Quoting the Act, the teachers said that the university authorities must call at least one Senate session a year where the annual budget will be placed and approved besides taking all other important decisions. And for this they have to hold the elections on completion of the Senate's two-year tenure, they said.
According to the Act, another vital role of the Senate is to finalise a three- member vice-chancellor panel to choose chancellor, they added.
Teachers claimed that the current and the previous administrations of the university have been recruiting teachers and manpower on political consideration and spending university fund without approval of Senate. "This is a gross violation of the university rules", said a teacher.
Contacted, RU Vice-chancellor Prof Abdus Sobhan blamed the previous administrations for not holding Senate polls and sessions on time.
“The present administration is trying to create a favourable atmosphere to hold the Senate polls and sessions," Prof Sobhan said.
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