BRU Correspondent :
Begum Rokeya University (BRU) in Rangpur has been in trouble after admitting a total of 205 people for MPhil, PhD and post-doctoral degrees from 2012 to 2022 despite the University Grants Commission (UGC) not having approval. The matter of the research institute without approval was kept secret for 10 years, but it came to light in mid-2024.
Later, on May 16 last year, Dr. Admission for research under the Wazed International Research Institute (currently the Institute of Research Excellence) has been approved. As a result, 205 people who were previously admitted have not received approval, so they are counting their days in uncertainty.
The university administration has now started rushing to the UGC chairman to resolve the issue.
After the current Vice-Chancellor held two meetings with the unauthorized researchers, when the 205 researchers who were admitted without approval applied to the UGC for ex parte approval, the UGC informed in another return letter that there is no chance of ex parte approval.
However, as a result of this decision of the UGC, the degrees of 205 researchers have been in uncertainty.
Researchers say that many of them have been doing research activities for 8/10 years, many have completed their research activities, and are now waiting for approval. As a result of this decision of the UGC, researchers are facing time and financial loss.
It is learned that according to the ninth decision of the 10th Syndicate meeting on December 3, 2009, Dr. Wazed International Research Institute was established. The university administration took a policy decision to offer MPhil and PhD degrees from this institute.
Then, as per the decision taken in the 20th Syndicate meeting on November 3, 2011, admission to MPhil and PhD was made by giving a notification in a national daily on March 7, 2012 from the academic year 2011-2012.
According to Wazed International Research Institute sources, since its establishment, Dr. Wazed International Research and Training Institute has admitted 205 MPhil, PhD and post-doctoral researchers in these batches.
Of them, 16 were admitted in the 2011-2012 session, 37 in the 2018-2019 session, 71 in the 2019-2020 session, 44 in the 2020-2021 session, and 37 in the 2021-2022 session.
Although they were admitted from the academic year 2012 to 2022, Dr. Admissions under the Wazed International Research and Training Institute were allowed on May 16, 2024.
As a result, those who were admitted in the previous 10 years will not have the opportunity to earn any degree.
Several senior teachers of the university said that although there was no approval for research, this admission started during the tenure of the second Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Abdul Jalil Miah. The first officer was his daughter. Later, Dr. Wazed International Research Institute was opened and researchers were admitted under it.
It is known that teachers from various universities, government officials, teachers from various government colleges, and primary school principals have been admitted for research at the Dr. Wazed International Research Institute established at Begum Rokeya University.
Many have ended their vacations due to admission. Many have not been able to complete their research or submit their research papers. There are many who have received letters from the institution to return their salaries and allowances because they could not complete their research.
They said, “We got admitted after seeing the circular. Although we were admitted in 2012, there has been no solution till date. Where is our crime?” We were admitted according to all the rules. The university is responsible for this.
Assistant Professor Mahmudul Haque of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, who was admitted to the research program, said, “Those who sent the letter for partial approval clearly do not have legal knowledge.
This letter from the UGC is proof of that. No institution ever gets partial approval; only students or fellows can be absorbed partially, not the institution. Even if an institution does not have prior approval, a fellow can be admitted. UGC has given fellowship to fellows of unapproved institutions.
For example, someone opened a school and admitted in the sixth grade and got approval while studying in the ninth grade. Now do those students have to start from the sixth grade again? There is no need to study the sixth grade again. There are hundreds of such examples in Bangladesh. The law is always the same.
He also said, why did the university admit researchers without approval? This is mere fraud and a criminal offense. Any researcher who wants a fellow can file a fraud and compensation case against the concerned university authorities. The university has embezzled lakhs of taka for admission, which is also a criminal offense.
Omar Faruk, an associate professor in the university’s Accounting and Information Systems Department, who was admitted to the research program in 2012, said, “I was admitted to the PhD program by following the proper rules and I also submitted my thesis. I want justice from the university.”
Another student, Mahatar Hossain Sujan, a teacher at Rangpur Government College, said, “We don’t know whether there is approval or not. We received the circular in the newspaper and applied. We have completed all our work and submitted our thesis. Then why do you come after so many years and say that it is not approved? Then why were we admitted? Now we see no other option but to take refuge in the law.”
