Not research but election is the aim: Dhaka University’s special favour to BCL leader

The Dhaka University administration had allegedly favoured former Chhatra League general secretary Golam Rabbani to run in the university central student union election by giving him studentship before the election. 

In so doing, the university authorities had ignored the rules to allow Rabbani to take admission in Criminology Department as an MPhil student, revealed an investigation by The Business Standard. 

Thus Rabbani qualified for contesting the Ducsu polls held in March this year and was elected general secretary. The election was also marred by various irregularities.

As per the charter of the student platform, only current students are eligible to take part in Ducsu polls either as a candidate or a voter.   
Rabbani, who was forced to resign as Chhatra League general secretary last month amid allegations of controversial activities, lost his studentship seven years back after he graduated in 2011 from the law department of the university. 

As the university authorities moved for holding the long due Ducsu polls, Rabbani moved too to take admission to the university to contest the election.

In his move, he allegedly enjoyed favour of the university vice-chancellor and the criminology department chairman. 

According to the admission rules a thesis paper needs to go through five stages before getting permission to secure an MPhil admission.
The process starts with the step-by-step approval from an academic committee, comprising the chairman and teachers of the department concerned.

The matter is then discussed in a faculty meeting chaired by its dean and attended by the chairmen and professors of all departments; in the board of advanced studies headed by the vice-chancellor and all professors of the university; in the academic council comprising the vice-chancellor, all chairmen, deans, directors and professors.

The process ends with the syndicate comprising the VC and syndicate members.

The faculty meeting plays the major role in scrutinising the thesis paper. 

Rabbani's thesis paper was accepted without approval from the faculty and the board of advanced studies, and he was given the MPhil admission.

Criminology Department's Chairman Professor Zia Rahman allegedly bypassed the faculty meeting and the board of advanced studies.
However, VC Professor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman denied the anomalies. 

"There is no scope of violation in the admission process. Everything was done as per the rules and process," he told The Business standard. 

But Professor Zia said they had approved Rabbani's thesis paper in the academic council, but it was not sent to the faculty meeting. 

"Due to time constraints, we did not submit the thesis paper to the faculty meeting. Yes, it was a violation of the process but not illegal," he said.

"There are many cases in the university of theses getting the go-ahead without the approval from the faculty meeting," Prof Zia added. 
But sources at the Dhaka University registrar office told The Business Standard that the minutes and agenda of each meeting of the board of advanced studies are normally finalised a day before the meeting date.

But no MPhil proposal from the criminology department was placed in the meeting of the board of advanced studies in January. Two days later when the academic council's meeting started at 3pm, the vice-chancellor told a deputy registrar to add an extra page to the agenda, which was sent from the criminology department.

Then the officer printed out the page where the names of Rabbani and three other students were written as MPhil candidates, and the vice-chancellor passed it.

"The document came from the criminology department after the academic council meeting had started. And we were asked to print a copy and add that to the agenda. We did it as per the directive," said Deputy Registrar Jamal Ahmed.
    
The whole process

The university authority published an advertisement for the MPhil application for 2018-2019 session in September 2018. 

The last date for submitting applications was October 10.

To finalise the submitted proposals, the meetings of different faculties were held in January this year. 

The criminology department belongs to the Social Sciences Faculty. 

Its meeting was held on January 16, but there was no MPhil proposal from the department in the meeting. 

As per the procedure, the meeting of the board of advanced studies was held on January 22 and the academic council's meeting was held on January 24. 

Meantime, the university authority announced the election schedule for Ducsu and hall unions on February 11, saying the polls would be held on March 11. 

To allow Rabbani's candidacy in the polls, Professor Zia and Vice-Chancellor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman approved his thesis paper to help him get admission. 

Finally, Rabbani became eligible to contest the Ducsu election.

When asked, Professor Sadeka Halim, dean of the Social Sciences Faculty, told The Business Standard that Rabbani's thesis proposal was not submitted to the faculty meeting. 

"There is no chance of getting approval for the thesis proposal without placing it before the faculty meeting. But I do not know how he was allowed for the admission," she said. 

Pro-Vice Chancellor (Admin) of Dhaka University Professor Dr Muhammad Samad said the approval from the faculty meeting is a must. 

"I cannot believe that the thesis that was not approved at the faculty meeting got approval from the syndicate. If such allegation surfaces, immediate probe needs to be carried out," he said.

Rabbani could not be contacted for comments despite several attempts.