Public universities in peril

Of late, PUs have become points of attack by a certain quarter of the public. The reasons are not far to seek. There are admittedly some holes which need a sealing. But the sickness in the system of governance of PUs aggravated from the very beginning of the assumption of power by the present ruling coalition. Within a month or so, the first attack was marshalled against Dhaka, Jahangirnagar and Rajshahai universities by removing the elected VCs and replacing them with people 'acceptable' to the ruling party of the day. These appointees assumed power at the dead of night with no respect to the norms and customs of an institution called university. Everybody was shocked by the way they stormed into the offices of the VCs. However, mounting protests against such acts could hardly come by quickly as the initial periods were marked by a sense of insecurity.

Storms have been brewing over as these universities have historically been ruled by an act of the parliament made in 1973. Accept it or not, the rules suggest that the VCs of these universities would be selected by the Chancellor from a panel of three persons elected by a body of senate members. As an elected government would not expect a removal till its tenure is completed (so far our PM has been harping on this point against demand for stepping down), so an elected VC cannot be removed till the tenure ends. But democracy is what democracy is perceived by the ruling parties.

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As opposed to elected VCs, the selected or 'imposed' VCs soon started to show their sincerity in serving the master. Police entered into a female students' dormitory of Dhaka University to beat up the inmates. It was alleged that the then 'imposed' VC was an accessory to that devilish act. Dhaka University had to reel under protests for a long time till the then VC quit to represent the country abroad. Then came the killing of a student in BUET by the armed miscreants of the JSD that put off the light of learning for a pretty long time.

The caretaker government led by Latifur Rahman injudiciously removed the earlier VC of the National University (NU), Dr Durga Das. It was not expected from a short-lived government that was not supposed to look after regular appointments. However, Dr Momin Chowdhury sat on the chair without knowing, perhaps, that the axe could also fall on his shoulder. Very soon it happened. Dr Chowdhury was removed with the stroke of a pen but without showing any reason whatsoever. What has been happening to NU now? Newspaper reports point out the crimes and corruptions taking place there. Hundreds of employees are allegedly being recruited at whims. Again, allegations of serious violations of rules and regulations are being raised by even pro-BNP papers and persons.

The Islamic University at Kushtia had also been reeling under regime of the present administration. Classes, examinations and overall academic environment are being threatened by the movements of teachers and students. Interestingly, a fraction of the 'pro-BNP' teachers there joined hands with pro-liberation forces to speak against the odds. The main allegations are that the present VC recruited a lot of 'Jamaat oriented' teachers.

Rajshahi University now a days hardly sees any light of learning. Islamic Chhatra Shibir allegedly threw out JCD men from the campus and everything that can happen there is happening.

In Jahangirnagar University (JU), the situation seems to be the worst of all. All academic and administrative activities are stalled now. JU had to suffer set back from the on going movements of teachers and students for a long time. The session jam that could be curtailed by eight months or so by the previous regime, rose to the peak of 14 months or so. JUTA raised allegations of rampant corruption, insidious inefficiency and Jamaat feeding by the present administration. The good news was that after all the odds, in the face of fierce protests, the present 'imposed' VC was forced to declare an election for the VC panel on 19 February 2004. Surprisingly-but not sordidly perhaps- the government backed panel led by the existing VC failed to pass the test of popularity. A record breaking event took palce on 19 February when another panel led by liberal BNP men stole the lead by winning all three positions ( also majority of other seats).

From 19 Febraury till the writing of this column on 7 March, there was no appointment of the new VC. Generally, it takes three to four days or even at best a week to appoint new VC. But the government is allegedly sitting on the file to foil the mandate.

Of course from government's side the argument could be that one of the losing candidates filed case against the results. So what? Had the High Court stayed the results? If not then government should have quickly taken the decision of appointing a new VC for JU from the panel of the liberal BNP stalwarts (God knows what would have happened if the elected three were from Awami camp!).

The implications of the dillydallying is far reaching as far as JU is concerned. I think the present VC should have gone to the government to say: enough is enough. Please put in someone to save the institution. Meantime the university is suffering a serious blow. Admission test, reportedly, has been postponed from the stipulated 13 March. All administrative works are stopped excepting few formalities. It may so happen that JU might have to suffer setback in the absence of judicious decisions by the government.

It is unfortunate that the policy makers are apathetic to the ongoing ailments of the PUs. It is not surprising , perhaps, given that their children have to go abroad or at least have a place in expensive private universities. But what about the children of the lower middle and low income groups who wait to get into PUs? What about building of a nation that looks forward to see the PUs perform better? So far the price of 'personal promotion' has been heavy for PUs and let us downsize the costs as early as possible.

Abdul Bayes is a Professor of Economics at Jahangirnagar University.