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Patuakhali Science University

Anomalies under probe

SOHRAB HOSSAIN, Patuakhali
Allegations of recruitment irregularities and audit objections have put Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) in a fix.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) and Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee have formed separate committees to probe the allegations, one of which is raised by Local and Revenue Audit Directorate, Dhaka.
In his last few days in office, vice-chancellor Prof Syed Sakhawat Hussen used his discretionary power to recruit
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119 teachers, officials and employees, mostly on contracts, say PSTU sources.
The VC along with the registrar issued these appointments, working through the nights on December 16-18 last year, they added. The last time he went to the office was on December 19, though he had one more day.
The 17-member Regent Board, PSTU's recruiting authority chaired by the vice-chancellor, was consulted only during the recruitment of a handful of permanent staff.
The PSTU advertised in a national Bangla daily on December 2 last year, inviting applications for 10 posts, The Daily Star has learnt.
"The long procedures of recruitments were completed in a record time between December 2 and 18 and now everyone in Patuakhali knows how much money changed hands during those days," said a top PSTU official requesting anonymity.
Prior to his departure, the VC promoted his nephew Moniruzzaman, from audit and accounts officer to assistant director (audit). The post requires five years’ experience but Moniruzzaman had only three years.
Worldng only two years as associate professor, Dr Sultan Mahmud became a professor while the requirement was four years. Localsand university officials know Sultan as the vice-chancellor’s brother-in-law.
Without required experience, Dr Subrata Prasad Sikder was made senior medical officer, apost for someone with minimum five years' practice.
The university authorities in June 2011 promoted the assistant registrar to deputy registrar. The person had three years' experience, though five years was required.
The Daily Star has documents showing that at least eight others were promoted in the same manner.
The PSTU audits, conducted by the Local and Revenue Audit Directorate in Dhaka, have revealed at least 20 anomalies involving more than Tk 1.72 crore. The Daily Star has obtained the copies of the audit reports.
Between 2009 and 2011, the PSTU officials concerned withdrew Tk 45.09 lakh in house rents, though they were all living in government quarters, according to the reports.
Tk 5.72 lakh in mobile phone bills, Tk 19.33 lakh in personal income tax and Tk 64.20 lakh in fuel costs were paid unduly from the PSTU coffer.
The audit reports also point out anomalies in recruitments and promotions.
For instance, the university recruited assistant registrar and press relations officer in its development project while the organogram has no provisions for these posts.
UGC Chairman AK Azad Chowdhury has toldThe Daily Star that most of the alleged
anomalies were found simply because the audit authorities refuse to accept that the employees of an autonomous body like a public university should enjoy all the facilities that public officials get. This has been a longstanding problem.
“My biggest concern about PSTU is the way these recruitments were done,” he said.
“We have formed a three-member probe committee to look into the allegations in recruitment. Once the investigation is completed, we shall notify the ministry and suggest punishment."
The chairman added the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee also has formed a committee to look into the audit findings.
Talking to The Daily Star over the mobile phone, Prof Syed Sakhawat Hussen, currently teaching at the animal husbandry department of Mymensingh Agriculture University, categorically denied all the allegations.
He said he had completed all procedures of recruitments and promotions as per the university regulations.
At least 400 posts are still vacant at PSTU and to run seven faculties it needs more people, ProfSyed added.
“A vested group is spreading rumours against me. I had to complete the recruitments, regularisations and promotions by December 18 because the Regent Board had convened a meeting on the day and all the pending work had to be scrutinised and approved by them before my departure.
“Dr Sultan Mahmud is not my brother-in-law. My nephew was promoted by the approval of the Regent Board and the audit objections had nothing to do with me.
“If you do not give these people incentives how will they work at such a remote place? Dr Sikdar is a very well qualified doctor serving to help the people who hardly have access to healthcare in the area," he said.
“Local journalists are angry with me because they wanted favour which I ethically could not provide.”
On December 18, Nikhil Chatterjee, a local newsman, at a view-exchange meeting at the university raised question over irregularities in appointments. Some of the PSTU staff who benefited from the deals became so furious that they attacked the journalists present there.
Nikhil on December 24 filed a case with a judicial magistrate's court in the district, accusing the VC and his men of assaulting the journalists. The Detective Branch of police is investigating the matter following an order of the court.
Patuakhali Science and Technology University formally started functioning on February 26, 2002, on the 89.97-acre campus of former Patuakhali Agricultural College.