The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday formed a three-member probe committee to investigate allegations of irregularities, including in teacher recruitment, against Islamic University Vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam.
A press release, signed by UGC Director Muhammad Jaminur Rahman, was issued in this regard on Thursday afternoon.
UGC member Prof M Abu Taher has been appointed as the convener of the probe body, with additional director M Fazlur Rahman and deputy director Muhammad Yousuf Ali Khan serving as members.
The committee is mandated to investigate various irregularities raised against Prof Salam and submit its report promptly. The committee is granted the authority to inspect relevant documents during the investigation.
The committee was asked to submit its reports as early as possible. The body can inspect any kind of documents as part of its investigation, the release said.
Simultaneously, another probe body, led by UGC’s general services, estate, and engineering division director Jafor Ahmad Jahangir, has been formed to investigate the irregularities involving the university's acting registrar, HM Ali Hasan.
The controversy gained traction after 14 audio clips, allegedly containing conversations between the vice-chancellor and various individuals, went viral on social media between February 16 and June 13, 2023.
IU acting registrar HM Ali Hasan filed a general diary with the Islamic University police station on February 17 after an audio clip involving the vice-chancellor and a jobseeker of IU's mass communication and journalism department surfaced online.
In one audio conversation leaked on March 8, the VC allegedly assured a person of securing his relative a favorable position in the university's economics department recruitment board.
The Islamic University Teachers’ Association and Awami League-backed teachers’ alliance Shapla Forum submitted a written petition seeking an explanation from the vice-chancellor regarding the leaked audio conversations.
Prominent voices within the university community and progressive alliance teachers have called for a thorough investigation, emphasizing that a vice-chancellor should not disclose recruitment test information.
UGC member Prof M Abu Taher said they would go to the campus to investigate the incident soon. The ministry concerned would take action against the VC if any irregularities brought against him would be proved.
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