The Dhaka University on Sunday held its annual Senate session amid the coronavirus pandemic without the presence of some of its top officials.
At the session, DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Akhtaruzzaman nominated three syndicate members. Prof Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam, chairman of Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission and also a former dean of the university’s business studies department, was nominated by the Senate (after internal voting) as a Syndicate member under the educationist quota.
Moreover, Bahalul Majnun Chunnu, a former general secretary of Chhatra League, was nominated a Syndicate member under the registered graduate category, and former Bangla Academy director general Shamshuzzaman Khan was nominated under the eminent citizens category.
“These three new Syndicate members, including myself, were re-nominated by the Dhaka University Senate after two years completion," Prof Shibli told Bangladesh Post over phone.
The meeting, attended by 63 members, also nominated Sonali Bank Managing Director Ataur Rahman Prodhan as a member of the university’s finance committee.
Notably, most of the top officials of the University refused to attend the session, including some senate members, two pro-vice chancellors (VC), and the treasurer of the university, alleging that the DU VC Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman held the meeting to serve his own agenda.
They alleged the VC nominated three candidates of “his preference” from the Senate to the Syndicate.
Several senate members alleged that the VC had called the senate session hurriedly to nominate “his own men” to the syndicate.
The DU VC wanted to nominate “his own men” and called the meeting in a hurry as the three-year tenure of 35 teacher-representative senate members is going to end on June 16, sources claimed.
"The VC issued a notice on May 13 about the meeting which could not fulfill the criteria as the university was closed till May 30 due to Covid-19 pandemic in line with government holidays,” alleged a senate member seeking anonymity.
“It contradicts the DU Ordinance and Regulations (Calendar part 2) which says the VC has to issue a notice to all the members at least 21 working days before the session,” he also added.
However, the annual budget for the university, which is traditionally announced on the final senate session of a fiscal year, was not placed this time, and the Senate session was adjourned instead till July 23.
Moreover, a proposed statute to establish a research institute titled “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Research Institute for Peace and Liberty” was also ratified.