Ex-KAU VC among 17 sued over recruitment corruption

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 17 individuals, including former Vice-Chancellor of Khulna Agricultural University (KAU), for allegedly manipulating the recruitment process by appointing unqualified candidates through abuse of power and use of forged documents.

The case was lodged on Sunday at the ACC’s Khulna Integrated District Office by Deputy Director Sumitra Sen, who also serves as the complainant in the case. 

According to First Information Report (FIR), the accused individuals conspired to bypass official recruitment rules and procedures, unlawfully ensuring the appointment of candidates who did not meet eligibility criteria while deliberately failing qualified applicants.

Among those named in the case are Professor Dr. Md. Shahidur Rahman Khan, former Vice-Chancellor of the university and former Registrar Khandaker Mazharul Anwar. 

The list of accused also includes several university officials and staff members who were allegedly recruited through these irregularities. 

They are accused of producing fake documents, attaching forged signatures and recommendations and violating recruitment conditions to favour certain candidates.

ACC has brought charges under sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 109 of the Penal Code, along with section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. 

The complaint states that Dr. Shahidur Rahman Khan, as the primary accused, in collaboration with the others, ensured the appointment of individuals ranked from 3 to 17 on the candidate list, despite their lack of qualifications. This was done at the expense of genuinely eligible candidates, who were unjustly excluded from selection.

This case underscores growing concerns about corruption in recruitment practices at public institutions in Bangladesh.

ACC’s legal action signals an effort to address and curb such abuses of authority within the country’s higher education system.

SMS/SH