North South University (NSU), the country's first private university, ought to be a symbol of academic ambition and institutional integrity. Founded in 1992 with 137 students under a mandate rooted in "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.
Massive Fund and Irregularities
North South University (NSU) collects about Tk 500 crore annually in tuition fees but spends less than Tk 250 crore, accumulating a fund of around Tk 1,500 crore in bank deposits, the largest reserve among the country's private universities, according to the Ministry of Education and the UGC.
Its largest deposit, Tk 347 crore, is held at Southeast Bank, raising conflict-of-interest concerns because of the bank's links to university trustees. More than Tk 10 crore was also deposited in institutions later linked to the PK Halder scam and remains unrecovered.
The Private Universities Act requires universities to operate on a non-profit basis. Former UGC member Professor Dr Biswajit Chanda said, "It is completely unreasonable to create a large fund by imposing a hefty fee on students." He also said, "NSU could reduce tuition fees by 40-50 per cent or provide free education to poor and meritorious students", adding that "the government has not approved any specialised university only for the children of the so-called elite and wealthy families."
Following a UGC investigation into alleged irregularities, the Ministry of Education ordered a re-audit of NSU's accounts from 1992 to 2020 through a ministry-nominated audit firm.
The then Vice-Chancellor of the NSU Professor Dr Atiqul Islam said, "The decisions taken by the trustees are implemented by the university administration."
COMMITTEES, MEETINGS AND MONETARY GAINS
A UGC investigation found that trustees used an excessive number of internal committees to enrich themselves at the university's expense. While Section 44 of the Private Universities Act 2010 allows only eight standing committees, NSU operated 25, over three times of the legal limit. The report states the aim was straightforward, "each committee meeting generated a sitting allowance for its members."
Trustees reportedly received Tk 50,000 per meeting, rising to Tk 1 lakh at times. Between 2012 and 2022, over Tk 17 crore was allegedly withdrawn from the university's general fund through these payments. In 2019, the Ministry of Education identified 19 committees as unnecessary and ordered their dissolution, but they continued functioning.
The investigation also found trustees used university funds for overseas trips despite legal restrictions, which the UGC treated as self-dealing against the trust's non-commercial mandate.
After the Board's 2022 reconstitution sitting allowances fell from Tk 50,000 to Tk 10,000 and committee allowances from Tk 25,000 to Tk 6,000. Trustee Junaid Kamal Ahmed and Vice-Chancellor Atiqul Islam declined to take allowances, but the reforms ended after the previous trustees were restored following August 2024 uprising.
ADMISSION AND PROMOTION BUSINESS
NSU has been accused of a structured admission trading system where undergraduate seats were allocated in exchange for cash paid to Board of Trustees members instead of academic merit. A separate quota for each Board members allegedly enabled over 100 admissions per semester through personal recommendations, with payments of few lakhs per student. Minimum GPA requirements were routinely waived through written instructions from trustees via the Vice-Chancellor's office.
In one case, Board member MA Hashem recommended non-qualifying applicants, and former Vice-Chancellor Professor Atiqul Islam approved their admission to the BBA programme with documented authorisation.
Professor Atiqul Islam acknowledged the system, saying, "The Board members in the university have passed the admission quota resolution through the Board." He added, "Although the Board members admit ten students each through quota, about 100 are being admitted. I have been threatened. Many try to trade in admissions by forging signatures." On GPA waivers, he said, "On the instructions of the Board members, admissions were made on the basis of quota without the prescribed points."
Former UGC member Professor Dr Mohammad Alamgir rejected the practice stating, "There is no Board of Trustees quota in admissions in any university in the world, which is practiced illegally in NSU." He warned that "Strict action should be taken if evidence of admission trade is found" and called such programmes illegal, adding that "the certificates are also not valid."
Investigators also found 10 programmes run under one administrative structure to increase income and 50-60 unsuccessful students promoted each semester through manipulated results, with one syndicate member alleging promotions occurred due to "the blessings of the NSU syndicate."
PRIME MINISTER'S SIGN FORGERY
Eight including NSU Board of Trustees member Md Shahjahan, former PMO staff members Fatema Khatun were found guilty in a case involving forgery of a document bearing the former Prime Minister's signature related to NSU's treasurer appointment.
The case was filed on 5 May 2020 and chargesheeted on 18 May 2022. The Ministry of Education had proposed three candidates, with the Prime Minister selecting Professor Dr M Enamul Haque. While the file was being processed, it was allegedly removed, money exchanged, and later tampered with by changing marks to alter the selected candidate in favour of a particular candidate. Fatema Khatun later gave a confessional statement before the court.
UGC RULE VIOLATION AND ENFORCED ACTING VC APPOINTMENT
Professor Atiqul Islam served as NSU Vice-Chancellor from February 2016, with a second term starting in February 2020 and ending on 23 February of the following cycle. Before expiry, the Board of Trustees sought a third 18-month term from the President, which exceeded the four-year limit under the Private Universities Act 2010. When approval was not granted, the Board unilaterally appointed him as Vice-Chancellor in a "current-duty" capacity for 18 months without presidential authorization.
The law only allows the Board to recommend candidates, not appoint them. Section 31(6) states, "If the Vice-Chancellor is unable to perform his duties, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor shall temporarily perform the duties. However, if the post of Deputy Vice-Chancellor is vacant, the Treasurer shall perform the duties." Section 16(9) confirms appointments are made by the President for four-year terms.
Former UGC Chairman Professor Dr Muhammad Alamgir told media, "Board of Trustees cannot give anyone the responsibility as Vice-Chancellor. It can only recommend names… The President will appoint the Vice-Chancellor for a period of four years."
Former UGC member Professor Dr Biswajit Chanda added that under the arrangement the VC would effectively be on leave. Atiqul Islam issued an order taking personal leave and assigning the Treasurer duties, while referring to himself as "Vice-Chancellor in-charge," a title with no legal basis. NSU sources said the Board sought an 18-month extension after failing to secure a standard reappointment.
