The recruitment of 12 leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the ruling Awami League-backed student organisation, as ‘special officers’ at Jagannath University without any advertisement of tests has drawn severe criticism.
Teachers and students accused vice-chancellor Mijanur Rahman of abusing his power.
They said that the vice-chancellor should think about general students not Chhatra League only.
How the general students would get the university jobs if appointments are made in such a way, they asked.
Mijanur, however, told on Friday, ‘The authorities have recruited the 12 Chhatra League leaders as special officers following the university act.’
He said that only Chhatra League leaders applied for the positions and no advertisement was published as the recruitment was temporary.
No University Grants Commission approval was needed for as the 12 were recruited temporarily, he claimed.
He claimed that the 12 were appointed on daily-basis contract based on their previous applications.
In February, Mizanur gave the contractual appointments to the chhatra League leaders – central committee members Anwar Hossain and Mizanur Rahman, university unit vice-president Danesh Mia, cultural secretary Nurul Huda, education secretary Ashiquzzaman, and leaders Arefin Kawsar, Prashanta Mridha, Abdullah Al Mamun, AKM Kamruzzaman, Ziaur Rahman, Abdus Salam and Biswajit Mallik – despite restriction on such recruitment slapped by the University Grants Commission.
They are now working at different departments under the registrar’s office.
Their appointment letters did not mention the tenure of their contracts, officials said.
One of the daily newspaper approached four special officers for their comments on Friday. They declined to comment.
University sources said that the university advertised for six positions of section officers, grade-2, in 2015.
The appointments were scheduled to be confirmed during the 70th syndicate meeting on December 3, 2016.
Chhatra League leaders, however, interrupted the meeting and forced the vice-chancellor to appoint 12 people instead of six, but the appointments were postponed by the syndicate.
The grant commission on 20 December, 2016 issued a moratorium on the recruitment.
The appointment letters signed by registrar Ohiduzzaman stated that the appointed had to complete the certificate course (acquiring skills in Bangla and English writing) in three months of their appointment. Salary would be enhanced if they complete the course on time.
University officials said that the salary for special officers was based on their knowledge of English and Bangla with computer skills. They received salaries ranging from Tk 5,000 to Tk 15,000, depending on their results. They will get Tk 20,000 per month if they complete the course.
