Appropriate action should be taken against the private universities that do not comply with the existing rules and cannot maintain minimum academic standard, said the leaders of the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh yesterday.

"We are very much in favour of taking action, and the institutions that cannot ensure a minimum standard should be closed down," said co-convenor of the association Abul Quasem Haider at a meet the press organised at a city hotel to

express reservations of different private university entrepreneurs to the proposed Private University Act 2005.

Responding to a point that private universities are responsible to an extent for creating vacuum at the public universities by hiring teachers from there, Haider said, "The government has approved so many private universities in a rapid sequence that it has resulted in serious dearth of qualified teachers."

Association Convenor Commodore (Retd) MA Rahman expressed his strong reservations

to the proposed act and termed it as a law of 'grabbing by force.'

He said the association is against the provisions contained in the proposed act in regard to the formation of syndicate, academic council, finance committee and recruitment committee.

Rahman said the private university entrepreneurs must have absolute authority over the formation of the said bodies in running their institutions, as they invest their money in establishing universities in line with the open market economy.

Pointing to some other terms and obligations such as reserve fund,

infrastructure and appointment of vice-chancellor for setting up of private universities as per new law, he demanded that any changes to the existing act have to be made in consultation with the private university entrepreneurs and sponsors.

The government has recently initiated a comprehensive updating of the Private University Act-1992 to streamline the activities of private universities in the wake of various gross irregularities.

Alimullah Mian, Shahidullah and Dr Anwarul Abedin of the association were present on the occasion.