Islamic Arabic University run in defiance of UGC, ministry directives
The Islamic Arabic University, which oversees the country’s Fazil and Kamil madrasahs, has allegedly been operating in violation of directives issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Education.
Since its establishment in 2013 under the then Awami League government, the university has allegedly lacked proper rules and procedures for recruitment and other administrative activities, according to sources.
Even under the current government, allegations of irregularities have emerged over the recruitment and appointment of several professors and officials.
Sources said the university has recently appointed several professors and officials through the lien system, allegedly bypassing established recruitment procedures.
Under the university's service rules, professor posts are to be filled through promotion, direct recruitment or appointment on deputation.
However, university Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Abu Zafar Khan has appointed four professors on lien over the past two and a half months, sources said.
Under the lien system, an employee retains his or her position at the parent institution while working temporarily at another institution after being granted special leave.
The four professors appointed recently are Professor Dr Golam Rabbani of the Department of Al-Quran and Islamic Studies at Islamic University, Kushtia, who joined on June 21; Professor Dr Idris Ali of the Department of Dawah and Islamic Studies; Professor Hussain Ahmed of the same department, who joined on August 11; and Professor AK Muhammad Nurul Islam of the Department of Fiqh and Law, who joined on July 8.
Professor Dr Idris Ali has since returned to his parent institution after being appointed treasurer there, sources said.
Meanwhile, a process has been initiated to appoint another professor from the Department of Al-Hadith and Islamic Studies at Islamic University, according to sources.
In another appointment, Md Abu Bakar, deputy registrar of Patuakhali Science and Technology University, was appointed director (Finance) of Islamic Arabic University on lien on July 1.
Besides, Dr Waliur Rahman, who had been serving as acting examination controller and in-charge deputy registrar, was appointed examination controller on July 12.
UGC had suspended recruitment
The university's alleged recruitment irregularities came to light in March last year after it published recruitment advertisements for several posts.
Following this, the UGC suspended the recruitment process and postponed further appointments in September last year.
Although the suspension has reportedly not been withdrawn, the current vice-chancellor has continued appointing officials and professors on lien, sources alleged.
In a letter issued on May 28, 2024, and signed by the UGC director (Finance), the commission said employees appointed to a university through deputation must complete their joining process through an order issued by the Ministry of Education.
The VC allegedly did not follow this procedure in appointing several officials, sources said.
Sources further alleged that the vice-chancellor has appointed at least six officials, including professors, from his former workplace, Islamic University.
Professor AK Muhammad Nurul Islam, who joined Islamic Arabic University on July 8, was appointed to its Department of Islamic Studies despite being a professor in the Department of Fiqh and Law at Islamic University. He has also been given additional responsibility as registrar of Islamic Arabic University.
According to university rules, recruitment of manpower must be approved by the syndicate. However, the vice-chancellor allegedly bypassed this requirement in several appointments.
A senior UGC official, speaking to Asia Post on condition of anonymity, said, “We have heard that Islamic Arabic University has filled several posts through the lien system despite the UGC's bar.”
“The vice-chancellor has made such appointments, and other university officials are also unhappy over the issue. They have informed us about it,” the official said.
Which the VC says
When contacted, Professor Dr Mohammad Abu Zafar Khan told Asia Post that he joined the university as vice-chancellor in March and had limited time to recruit the manpower required to run the institution.
“There was a shortage of time to recruit the necessary manpower after publishing the appointment advertisements,” he said.
The vice-chancellor also claimed that there had been no adequate recruitment procedures at the university for around 20 years.
Asked how a teacher from the Department of Fiqh and Law at Islamic University was appointed to the Department of Islamic Studies at Islamic Arabic University, Dr Abu Zafar Khan said the teacher had completed both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Al-Quran and Islamic Studies.
“That is why he was appointed to the department,” the VC said.
He denied any irregularities in the appointment of professors and officials, saying no irregularities had occurred in the recruitment process.