DU VC panel election questioned!

DU VC panel election questioned!

The uncontested election of the three-member vice chancellor panel of Dhaka University (DU) has been questioned.

Some Dhaka University teachers and registered representatives of the DU Senate alleged that the panel had ben elected by by less than half of the senate members.

The election was held in presence of only 47 senate members, with 50 seats remaining vacant.

During the panel election, two BNP-Jamaat-backed senate members boycotted the senate meeting from days ago. Six more senate members were also absent, and so the senate meeting was held with only 47 members.

The protesting senate members said the authorities could elect representatives from registered graduates and others, but the DU authorities did not do so. They elected the panel through one-sided voting, the DU teachers added.

A three-member VC panel, comprising current vice-chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, treasurer professor Kamal Uddin, and science faculty’s dean Md Azizur Rahman, was elected uncontested last Saturday. That means Arefin Siddique has the possibility to be reelected as VC for the third time.

According to the 1973 Ordinance, a full senate committee must have 105 members. Meanwhile, 50 positions have been vacated due to no elections of certain representative groups.

Out of the 50 vacated positions, 25 are reserved for registered graduates, 5 for researchers, 5 for representatives from affiliated institutions, 10 for the academy council and 5 for student representatives.

The DU law department’s associate professor Hafizur Rahman told Prothom Alo that the election of the VC panel without a complete senate body is not supported by law and was unethical. . He said the tenure of the representatives of the registered graduate members of the university ended in November last year. New election for the graduate members might have taken up to three months, but DU authorities failed to hold an election in the last eight months.

However, there are 44,000 registered graduates in the university.

The university ordinance also reads that every group of representatives except student representatives has a-three-year tenure.

Five positions for the student representatives remain vacant and no DUCSU election was held in the last 27 years.

Several DU teachers on anonymity told Prothom Alo that the elections were delayed as high-ups in the government are involved with the DUCSU election issues.

But, if wanted, the university could elect other representatives. The administration did not do that.

A section of the Awami League-backed DU teachers’ panel also expressed their dissatisfaction over the matter.

They alleged that the panel was elected to choose a predetermined candidate.

Dhaka University Teacher Association’s president ASM Maksud Kamal told Prothom Alo that former and current students want to see a reflection of their opinion in the election.

The election has been questioned as the panel election does not reflect their opinion, he added.

The university’s lawyer AFM Mezbah Uddin said the election process did not break any law. If the senate has at least 25 members, it can call a meeting. Thus, the senate held the meeting with the remaining members.

DU associate professor Nilima Akhter said the 25-member-quorum is applicable after formation of the full senate body.

Probe body formed

The DU authorities have formed an investigation committee over a clash between students and teachers during the senate meeting.

The probe body comprises professor of the Institute of Education and Research (IER) Md Fazlur Rahman, leather engineering and technology department professor Aftab Ali Sheikh and professor of the geography and environment Maksudur Rahman. All three are members of the precordial body.