137 appointments were made on humanitarian grounds: Outgoing RU VC
Joining of the newly appointed teachers, staff suspended
The outgoing vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University, Professor Dr M Abdus Sobhan, claimed that he appointed 137 Chhatra League activists and Awami League supporters in different positions on humanitarian grounds.
"The appointments are not against the law as the VC has been given the power under the Ordinance-73. I gave them jobs on humanitarian grounds. Those who were recruited are mostly from Chhatra League and Awami family," he told media after appearing before the education ministry probe body on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Rajshahi University authorities have suspended the joining process of 137 newly appointed teachers and staff.
Professor Abdus Salam, registrar of the university, issued a notification in this regard on Saturday afternoon, saying the decision was taken as per the education ministry declaration that described the appointments were illegal.
"The Ministry of Education has formed a probe body declaring the 5 May ad-hoc appointments illegal. Therefore, it has been requested to suspend the joining process of the appointments until a decision is made in light of the probe report," said the notification.
Professor Dr M Abdus Sobhan, the outgoing RU VC, made a total of 137 appointments, including nine teachers, on 5 May, just a day before end of his tenure.
A scuffle took place on the campus after the announcement of the appointments.
Soon after the incident, the education ministry termed the appointments illegal, citing an embargo imposed in December last year.
On Saturday, the probe body members went to the RU campus and held meetings with the acting VC, Professor Ananda Kumar Saha, and the university registrar.
Later, they summoned the outgoing VC and quizzed him there.
