At least 28 private universities of Bangladesh have no Vice Chancellor and 24 have no Treasurer.
And 11 private universities have neither a Vice Chancellor nor a Treasurer.
Bangladesh has 105 active private universities.
Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh University, Victoria University of Bangladesh, Royal University of Dhaka, BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT), Chittagong Independent University, Bangladesh Army University of Science and Technology (BAUST), Saidpur, Bangladesh Army University of Engineering and Technology (BAUET), Qadirabad, N.P.I. University of Bangladesh, Central University of Science and Technology and Bangladesh Army University of Science and Technology, Khulna, have neither Vice Chancellor nor Treasurer.
At least 10 private universities never had Treasurer since their inception.
Vice-Chancellor and Treasurer posts are vacant at Bangladesh Army University of Science and Technology, Khulna from the very beginning.
BRAC University, Bangladesh University, State University of Bangladesh, University of South Asia, Victoria University of Bangladesh, Priamasia University, ASA University Bangladesh, Chittagong Independent University, Rajshahi Science and Technology University, German University Bangladesh, Bangladesh Army University of Science and Technology, Saidpur, Bangladesh Army University of Engineering and Technology, Kadirabad, N.P.I University of Bangladesh, Northern University of Business and Technology, Khulna, Bandarban University and University of Skill Enrichment and Technology are functioning without Vice Chancellors for over a year.
Under the law, the President as Chancellor appoints Vice Chancellors, Pro-Vice Chancellors and Treasurers.
The Education Ministry does the spade work and sends proposals to the government for appointing Vice Chancellors and Treasurers after receiving proposals from the universities. The proposals go to the President via the Prime Ministers office.
Under the Private University Act, the boards of trustees of private universities send names of three professors for each post to the Education Ministry.
The Ministry, following scrutiny by University Grants Commission (UGC), sends the proposal to the government for the President to select one of them.
UGCs Private University Department Director Md Omar Faruk told the Daily Observer that the appointment process is quite complex.
"Many of the universities having no Vice Chancellor and Treasurer have already requested for filling up the vacancies. Some of them are yet to send names of professors," Omar Faruk said.
At least three names have to be forwarded to the UGC for appointment of each Vice Chancellor, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Treasurer, said Sheikh Kabir Hossain, Chairman of the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh.
But its difficult to find so many qualified persons, he said.
"In most of the cases, a professor does not want to be an alternative to another professor in the panel. If one is appointed, the other two feel left out. So the Education Ministry should simplify the process and create scope to present the name of only one professor for each post. If they approve it, its fine. If they do not approve, we will send the name of another professor," Kabir said.
He said private universities, barring some, don need a Pro-Vice Chancellor.
"Vice Chancellor and Treasurer are enough to run a university," Kabir added.
He criticised the delays, saying at times it takes six months to complete the appointment process.
