North South University (NSU), the country's first private university, ought to be a symbol of academic excellence and institutional integrity.
Founded in 1992, country’s first private university, with 137 students under a mandate and vision of "philanthropic, charitable, non-political, non-profit and non-commercial purposes," NSU today enrols more than 25,000 students. Yet behind that reputation lies a decades-long record of financial plunder, sexual harassment and an institutional tolerance for Islamist extremism that has, in intelligence files and court records alike, made the university's name synonymous with militancy. Multiple investigations by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Ministry of Education have, over successive years, documented the same pattern of misconduct and the same impunity.
Recent Student Protest and a Guardian's Allegation
On 4 June 2026, students gathered near Gate No. 8 under the banner of "ordinary students," forming a human chain and holding a solidarity rally demanding an end to sexual harassment and a safe campus. The protest followed a guardian's complaint to the UGC against Board of Trustees (Board of Trustee) member Mohammad Shahjahan.
MBA student Mushtaq Tahmid, one of the organisers, said, "Safety and honour of female students are fundamental rights. We are demanding that 100% safety of students be ensured in the university area. A concerted effort from everyone is needed to raise awareness and take effective steps in this regard."
The complaint, which led to a UGC directive on May 14, accused Shahjahan of inappropriate relationships with female staff and students, admission and scholarship irregularities, and offering jobs, promotions and financial benefits in exchange for favours, including a syndicate allegedly admitting unqualified students for Tk 1-2 lakh. It also cited screenshots of alleged social media exchanges.
The petition further alleged that a laboratory instructor was molested in Shahjahan's car in May 2025, after which her salary was increased by Tk 60,000. It also claimed his influence secured the appointment of Adiba Ibnat Bushra in the Career and Professional Club with a 100% MBA waiver, while employees Priyanka and Sushmita Halder were irregularly transferred and promoted.
Following the directive, the Board of Trustees on May 18 issued a show-cause notice to Shahjahan, suspended his board activities, barred him from campus, and warned of possible permanent removal.
Board Chairman Aziz Al Qaiser said the actions followed the UGC instruction. "The Board of Trustees issued the show-cause notice through a unanimous decision. Apart from this, what else could we do?" he said.
He also alleged that since the notice, Shahjahan had threatened him via phone calls and messages.
ESTABLISHMENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES DEBATES
NSU was established in 1992 under the Foundation for Promotion of Education and Research (FPER), later renamed the North South University Foundation and subsequently reconstituted as The North South University Trust under the Private Universities Act 2010. At formation, membership stood at 23, including 16 Founder Life Members; current records show 15 trustees plus the Vice-Chancellor as ex-officio member. Only those who contributed up to Tk 7 lakh each were appointed trustees, a criterion that excluded several founding academicians and gradually concentrated control among business stakeholders.
A HISTORICAL PARADIGM OF CORRUPTION
UGC investigations in 2012, 2016 and 2019 identified recurring financial and administrative misconduct involving the Board of Trustee, yet the reports were largely not acted upon. The 2019 report, submitted to the Ministry of Education, referred to "anti-state activities" and "sponsorship of militancy" by certain Board of Trustee members and the findings later cited as the legal basis for the 2022 Board reconstitution.
Between 2012 and 2022, trustees allegedly withdrew over Tk 17 crore in allowances, while nine used university-financed luxury vehicles worth around Tk 27 crore. In 2021, the Ministry ordered a full re-audit of NSU's accounts from 1992 to 2020, which the university has yet to submit.
CASES, BAIL HEARINGS AND IMPRISONMENT
On 5 May 2022, the ACC filed a case against five trustees namely Azim Uddin Ahmed, MA Kashem, Benazir Ahmed, Rehana Rahman and Mohammad Shahjahan and Ashaloy Housing's Amin Md. Hilali, over alleged embezzlement of Tk 303.82 crore in a land deal for the University. On 22 May 2022, four were sent to judicial custody after bail petitions and remained imprisoned for an extended period. On 20 October 2022, the ACC approved a charge sheet in a money-laundering case involving nine individuals. On 2 April 2024, another case targeted eight trustees over luxury vehicle purchases.
On 4 September 2025, fresh complaints against MA Kashem prompted a three-member ACC investigation, alleging he transferred Tk 408 crore into Southeast Bank, where he was chairman, and formed 25 committees against a legal limit of eight. Earlier, at Dhaka Reporters Unity on 10 May 2022, the Law and Human Rights Protection Foundation demanded the arrest and trial of six individuals. Adviser Dr Sufi Sagar Sams said, "Because of the Azim-Kasem syndicate, NSU has become a sanctuary for corruption, irregularities and militancy. Therefore the ACC's filing of a case against them is commendable. But it must be noted that each of the accused is an influential and powerful person in society. Therefore none of them can escape through the loopholes of the law. The issue of the trial of the accused must be resolved quickly." He informed that trustee Aziz Al Kaiser Titu does not know about many irregularities of some influential trustees in the board.
CHANGES IN THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE AND REINSTATEMENT OF DISGRACED MEMBERS
Amid allegation of massive level corruptions and irregularities, on 17 August 2022, the government reconstituted the Board, removing members under ACC and UGC scrutiny. The new Board, including Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Atiqul Islam, Dr Junaid Kamal Ahmad, Tanvir Harun, Javed Munir Ahmed, Faiza Jamil and Sheema Ahmed, reduced allowances and ended trustees' free-admission privileges, briefly signalling reform.
After assuming office, the reconstituted board introduced measures aimed at improving transparency and accountability, reducing trustees' honorarium from Tk 50,000 to Tk 10,000 and committee allowances from Tk 25,000 to Tk 6,000. Trustee Junaid Kamal Ahmed also announced that he would not accept any honorarium for attending meetings.
That trajectory reversed after August 5, 2024. Twelve previously removed trustees, including MA Kashem, Azim Uddin Ahmed and Rehana Rahman, filed writ petitions on 20 August 2024, and the High Court stayed the 2022 Board reconstitution, restoring the earlier Board.
Former Board of Trustee chairman and founding member MA Awal said, "Those who are now returning through the court's verdict are corrupt. I was removed in 2012 because I spoke against them. But the government did not remove me; they removed me." He added that he had filed proceedings against 12 trustees later removed on corruption grounds, some subsequently jailed. On 12 March 2012, he had also declared the Board of Trustee illegal and demanded the resignation of then-chairman Md. Shahjahan.
THE CAR SCANDALS
In 2019, North South University (NSU) purchased eight Range Rovers, one Mercedes-Benz and another luxury vehicle for about Tk 25.98 crore for Board of Trustees' use. In 2021, the Appellate Division expressed surprise at trustees using such expensive vehicles.
On April 2, 2024, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against eight trustees for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of university funds (2019-2022).
The ACC alleged violation of Section 44(7) of the Private Universities Act, 2010, stating the university's general fund was used to purchase and operate 10 luxury vehicles for personal use. The cars were sold on May 17, 2022, for Tk 17.36 crore, causing a loss of Tk 9.64 crore, while fuel and driver costs were Tk 83.29 lakh. Total loss and embezzlement were estimated at Tk 10.48 crore.
The case was filed under Sections 39, 420 and 109 of the Penal Code, Section 49 of the Private Universities Act, 2010, and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.
Then UGC member Professor Dr Biswajit Chanda said trustees should fund universities, not benefit from them. "If they take any financial benefit, it is immoral and illegal. If they take financial benefits, the deed of trust is broken," he said.
THE LAND-BUYING SCANDALS
A major controversy involved the purchase of 9,096.88 decimals of land in Rupganj (2016-2021) for Tk 535.19 crore, against an estimated market value of Tk 231 crore, allegedly causing an overpayment of Tk 304 crore. Investigators claimed about Tk 91.5 crore was paid as bribes to trustees.
According to the ACC chargesheet filed on October 20, 2022, the transactions lacked approval from the university syndicate, University Grants Commission or Ministry of Education. It alleged trustees, in collusion, inflated prices, routed excess payments through sellers, then withdrew funds via cash cheques and FDRs, and embezzled the money.
A September 2025 complaint against former trustee board chairman MA Kashem alleged trustees had "taken all the power of the university administration into their own hands".
The High Court later questioned the trustees' acquisition of large land parcels across different areas. A former UGC chairman, speaking anonymously, said the audit firm first detected irregularities and recommended cancellation of the university's temporary charter, but trustees allegedly attempted to remove the firm and threatened legal action against it.
