Tk 13cr audit objection raised against JnU
Taimur Mobin, JnU Correspondent :
The Directorate of Education Audit has raised a total of 13 audit objections against Jagannath University (JnU), comprising seven common objections and six preliminary ones.
According to the latest annual report (2022) by the University Grants Commission (UGC), these objections highlight financial irregularities amounting to Tk 13 crore 25 lakh 16 thousand at JnU.
The UGC’s annual report, which draws on data from 2022, notes that among the country’s 53 public universities, 42 have been identified with financial irregularities totaling Tk 1,276 crore 25 lakh 22 thousand across various fiscal years.
An analysis of the report’s data by the Directorate of Education Audit pinpointed the five universities with the most significant financial irregularities: National University, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, and Pabna University
of Science and Technology, with combined irregularities around Tk 650 crore.
The report includes written feedback on Budget and Spending Reports (BSRs) from various universities, received by the Audit Branch of the Finance and Accounts Department of the Bangladesh University Grants Commission, from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022.
These findings have been communicated to the Ministry of Education, the Directorate of Education Audit, and the universities. Notably, the audit objections regarding JnU are based on data from the fiscal year 2020-2021.
Dr. Md. Mohsin Reza, Finance Director of JnU, stated, “As I am newly appointed, I’m addressing these audit objections, which are based on the 2020-2021 data. We are examining the objections raised by UGC and will address the issues accordingly.”
JnU Treasurer Professor Dr. Humayun Kabir Chowdhury explained the financial irregularities, noting, “The UGC allocates funds for specific sectors. When funds are utilized in areas beyond those designated, UGC raises objections. However, this is not indicative of fault but rather a matter of coordination as per UGC’s guidelines.”
Vice-Chancellor of JnU, Professor Dr. Sadeka Halim, commented on the issue, saying, “Our challenge is in allocating funds to designated sectors while also needing to adjust some portions internally. The UGC’s audit objections have arisen during these adjustments.
Additionally, many of our employees are daily wage earners, not directly affiliated with UGC, yet their salaries must be managed within our budget. We are currently identifying the specific sectors that UGC has objected to.”
