Ex, current Chattogram University VCs at loggerheads over ‘Bangabandhu Chair’
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
February 08, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2023
Ex, current Chattogram University VCs at loggerheads over ‘Bangabandhu Chair’

Education

Abu Azad
03 April, 2021, 01:35 pm
Last modified: 03 April, 2021, 01:43 pm

Related News

  • Container handling of import cargos in Chattogram Port falls in January
  • Visiting US Coast Guard team expresses satisfaction over Ctg port security measures
  • 4 held in Ctg while smuggling endangered animals
  • Epic Health Care introduces Spiro-Feno-FOT combo test in Ctg
  • Man sentenced to death for killing 2 Tripura girls after rape

Ex, current Chattogram University VCs at loggerheads over ‘Bangabandhu Chair’

Some senior teachers of the university believe the row is about conflict of personal interests

Abu Azad
03 April, 2021, 01:35 pm
Last modified: 03 April, 2021, 01:43 pm
Photo: UNB
Photo: UNB

Highlights:

  • 'Current VC Shireen Akhter resorted to cheating over the appointment,' former VC Professor Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury wrote to the UGC
  • 'The appointment to the chair has been made by following the rules of the university. And we are not obliged to brief the media about that,' Prof Shireen Akhter tells TBS

The conflict between Chattogram University Vice-Chancellor Professor Shireen Akhter and former VC of the university Professor Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury has again come to the fore over the new appointment to the university's Bangabandhu Chair.    

The row had already widened, enough to reach the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) last year, forcing the University Grants Commission (UGC) to subsequently form an enquiry committee.     

In the latest development, former VC Prof Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury complained to the UGC enquiry team when Professor Muntassir Mamoon was appointed to the chair on 27 February this year.      

"Current VC Shireen Akhter resorted to cheating over the appointment," he wrote to the UGC. 

On condition of anonymity, some senior teachers of the university told The Business Standard that VC Shireen Akhter had appointed Prof Mamoon to the chair to use him as a shield in carrying out her personal vendetta against Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury – which was not acceptable at all.

In 2017, the Chattogram University authorities introduced the chair to conduct extensive research on the life and politics of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In March 2019, the then VC Prof Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury was appointed to the Bangabandhu Chair, serving in the position till mid-2020.

Prof Iftekhar complained to the PMO in mid-2020 that the current VC had removed him from the position soon after taking over as VC in June 2020.

Terming the removal illegal, an abuse of authority and against university regulations, Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury lodged a written complaint against Dr Shireen Akhter at the Prime Minister's Office.

The PMO then directed the UGC to form an inquiry committee to probe the allegations. On 26 August last year, the UGC formed a three-member inquiry committee comprising Prof Dil Afroza Begum, Prof Sajjad Hossain and Amirul Islam Sheikh.

The committee is yet to submit its report in this regard. Meanwhile, Prof Muntassir Mamoon was appointed to the post even as the row over the chair raged.

At the 529th syndicate (extraordinary) meeting of the university on 27 February, Prof Mamoon was appointed to the post for two years.

Following the new appointment, Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury complained to the UGC, "The current vice-chancellor has taken irrational, unethical and illegal steps by completely ignoring the report or action taken by the inquiry committee on a matter which is under investigation."

Previously, the former VC told the PMO that he had joined the chair with the approval of the Bangabandhu Chair Executive Committee. At the time, Prof Shireen Akhter was also on the committee as pro-VC.

"She herself was a signatory to the approval of my appointment to the post of Bangabandhu Chair. But soon after taking charge as VC, she wrote to me, asking me not to use the title of Bangabandhu Chair."

On condition of anonymity, some senior teachers of the university told TBS that since the UGC has formed an inquiry committee to resolve the dispute over the chair, the vice-chancellor should have waited for the committee's report.

While contacted, Prof Shireen Akhter told TBS, "The appointment to the chair has been made by following the rules of the university. And we are not obliged to brief the media about that." 

Bangladesh / Top News

Chattagram / Chattogram university / Vice-Chancellor Professor Shireen Akhter / Former VC Professor Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • RMG turns to India from China to get cheaper man-made yarn
    RMG turns to India from China to get cheaper man-made yarn
  • Country's revenue earnings were Tk40,000cr more in last fiscal: Finance Minister
    Country's revenue earnings were Tk40,000cr more in last fiscal: Finance Minister
  • The world's richest person is trying to head off a succession battle
    The world's richest person is trying to head off a succession battle

MOST VIEWED

  • File photo of Bangladesh Public Service Commission logo. Picture: Collected.
    Ad-hoc teachers at nationalised colleges seek job regularisation
  • Photo: Courtesy
    Bangladesh University holds orientation programme
  • New curriculum will help build Smart Bangladesh: Deputy edu minister
    New curriculum will help build Smart Bangladesh: Deputy edu minister
  • Battle of the Budding Marketing Masterminds: Ad Maker Bangladesh 2023
    Battle of the Budding Marketing Masterminds: Ad Maker Bangladesh 2023
  • Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni. Photo: UNB
    Major changes brought in learning method through new curriculum: Dipu Moni
  • The Placement Day (Job Fair), organised by the East Delta University (EDU) in Chattogram, was inaugurated on its campus on Friday. The Business Standard was the media partner of the two-day fair, participated by around 40 companies. Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin
    Bridging gap between academia, industry needed: Experts

Related News

  • Container handling of import cargos in Chattogram Port falls in January
  • Visiting US Coast Guard team expresses satisfaction over Ctg port security measures
  • 4 held in Ctg while smuggling endangered animals
  • Epic Health Care introduces Spiro-Feno-FOT combo test in Ctg
  • Man sentenced to death for killing 2 Tripura girls after rape

Features

Photo: Reuters

A tragedy that will also shake up the region's geopolitics

3h | Panorama
Nimah designed by Compass Architects- Wooden tiles. Photo: Junaid Hasan Pranto

Trendy flooring designs to upgrade any space

14h | Habitat
Benefits of having high ceilings in your new home

Benefits of having high ceilings in your new home

13h | Habitat
Each Reverse Osmosi plant can produce approximately 8,000 litres of drinking water a day for around 250 families. Photo: Sadiqur Rahman

A drop in the ocean of persistent water crisis

15h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

30% companies see double-digit growth even in hard times

30% companies see double-digit growth even in hard times

5h | TBS Insight
Challenging time waiting for RMG

Challenging time waiting for RMG

12h | TBS Round Table
"Full Moon Meditation" organized by Department of Theater and Performance Studies, University of Dhaka

"Full Moon Meditation" organized by Department of Theater and Performance Studies, University of Dhaka

12h | TBS Graduates
10 cricketers who have played over 400 T20 matches

10 cricketers who have played over 400 T20 matches

12h | TBS SPORTS

Most Read

1
Photo: Courtesy
Panorama

From 'Made in Bangladesh' to 'Designed in Bangladesh'

2
Leepu realised his love for cars from a young age and for the last 40 years, he has transformed, designed and customised hundreds of cars. Photo: Collected
Panorama

'I am not crazy about cars anymore': Nizamuddin Awlia Leepu

3
Master plan for futuristic Chattogram city in the making
Districts

Master plan for futuristic Chattogram city in the making

4
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo
Economy

IMF approves $4.7 billion loan for Bangladesh, calls for ambitious reforms

5
Belal Ahmed new acting chairman of SIBL
Banking

Belal Ahmed new acting chairman of SIBL

6
Photo: Collected
Crime

Prime Distribution MD Mamun arrested in fraud case

EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net