Instead of purchasing books of printed papers, photocopied pages of books have been purchased from the press at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology at a cost of Tk 10 lakh. Even, the price of those photocopied books have been shown several times more than the prices of those printed books.
It is alleged, some professors and officials of RUET are involved with the irregularities of purchasing those books. Even, the Enquiry or Quotation Committee of these books have also given 'clean-chit' to the Purchase Committee in paying the bills.
It is learnt, the price of Modern Inorganic Chemistry by Dr RD Madan published from S Chand Publication of India is Rupees 1,280. In Bangladesh the book is sold at Tk.2,000.
Abu Musa, owner of Sabuj Library at Sonadighi crossing in Rajshahi informed, they sold the photocopy of the book at Tk 150. But, RUET has purchased the same photocopy ( single copy) of the book at Tk 5,180.
Two copies ( photocopied) of the book have been purchased at Tk 10,360.
According to sources, In Charge of RUET Central Library Mahbubul Alam on June-16,2021, applied to the Vice-chancellor to purchase books amounting Tk 300,000 on a priority basis under Standard Request for Quotation(SRFQ).
The then Vice-Chancellor Prof Rafiqul Alam Sheikh accepted the application and approved the purchase of the books. Later, an order was issued to Comtech Computer and Printers-2 of Rangpur to supply books to the departments of ETE, IPE, GCE, URP and MTE.
But, instead of supplying the main printed books, the Computer company supplied photocopy-paged books to the library of RUET.
It is learnt, the Comtech Computer and Printers-2 is not any library which sells books, rather it is a printing press. But, photocopied books have been purchased from this press by paying an exorbitant price.
They same way in 2020-'21 the Vice-Chancellor of RUET approved the purchase of books from the revenue fund amounting nearly Tk two lakh.
But, these books were also photocopy-paged which were purchased from a printing press named Rangpur Hightech Digital Sign.
The books were of MSE, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Economics departments. Though the books are photocopy paged, the price of those have been paid far higher than those of printed ones. Such books of Tk 997, 377 have been purchased in four installments from the above-mentioned printing presses of Rangpur.
Prof Faruk Hossain, President of RUET Central Library Development Committee in this connection informed the he protested during the purchase of those photo-copied books and insisted for purchasing of the printed books but without inviting any open tender those books were purchased through SRFQ in four instalments which was not known to him.
He added, such corruption and irregularities can not be tolerated in any way in an educational institution like a university.
The then Vice-Chancellor of RUET Prof Rafiqul Islam Sheikh informed, he does not know about any irregularities or corruption in purchasing purchasing books at RUET Library.
Professor Dipakendranath Das, President of TIB-Sacheton Nagorik Kendro, Rajshahi, commented that it was a shame for the nation if the teachers even sell their self-esteem and rationality to money.
He added, the issue will be informed to the Bureau of Anti-Corruption.