Complaint against Leading University Vice Chancellor

When a vice chancellor goes abroad on leave, someone has to be entrusted with the responsibility. Such are the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC). However, Kazi Azizul Mawla, the vice-chancellor of Sylhet's private leading university, ran the university on a whim without paying attention to this rule.

Not only that, numerous allegations have been made against him including money laundering of the university abroad, running office in the US, taking TA-DA in the name of nepotism, personal travel. The chairman of the board of trustees of the university filed these complaints against Kazi Azizul Mawla in the UGC on March 6. Syed Ragib Ali. On the other hand, the Vice-Chancellor has filed a counter-complaint against the Board of Trustees in the UGC.

Leading University started its journey on March 4, 2002 in Ragib Nagar, South Surma, Sylhet. The total number of students in this university is 2,623 and permanent and part-time teachers are 117. 17 programs are running in 11 departments of the university.

After investigation, it is known that Kazi Azizul Mawla's relationship with the Board of Trustees deteriorated due to various reasons including establishment of single control in the university, conducting activities as desired, giving benefits to certain individuals. In this, a section against Ragib Ali in Sylhet is waving a stick from behind. Some influential leaders of Sylhet region of Awami League are also in the background.

Several leaders of Sylhet Awami League said that some leaders are fueling the vice-chancellor as part of putting pressure on Ragib Ali, the owner of huge wealth. Their greed is towards Ragib Ali's wealth. Apart from this, obtaining illegal financial benefits is also a reason. Because if there is no problem, there is no opportunity for intervention. This is why both sides have been brought face to face.

However, denying all the allegations, Kazi Azizul Mawla said, "The allegations made against me are not true. The problems that have arisen in recent times have been resolved to some extent. Now I am performing the duties of the Vice-Chancellor as per the rules." However, some officials are still non-cooperative.

Allegations of corruption and money laundering

In the letter submitted to the UGC, the vice-chancellor has been accused of arbitrariness, corruption, nepotism, money laundering abroad and willfully causing financial loss to the university.

It is said that on March 1, 2021 Dr. Since his accession, Qazi Azizul Mawla has visited America four times without permission from the authorities to take care of his children and on pleasure trips. During his stay abroad, he did not explain the duties of vice-chancellor to anyone.

Apart from this, he has taken extra money from the university fund in the last two years by evading personal income tax, amounting to Tk 19 lakh 50 thousand.

The complaint also states that on July 19, 2022, the Vice-Chancellor sent two and a half thousand pounds sterling (about one hundred and four lakh taka) from the general fund of the leading university to a UK company. A complaint has been made to the Anti-Corruption Commission in this regard.

Two sides facing each other

It is known that Azizul Mawla went to the United States with the permission of UGC to attend an international conference from January 12 to 24. According to him, he could not return home on time due to illness and flight complications. The vice-chancellor complained to the UGC that the board of trustees prevented him from joining the university three days after he returned home on February 16. He claimed that he was prevented from entering the workplace again on March 13.

The chairman of the board of trustees, Ragib Ali, did not respond to multiple phone calls and SMSes to inquire about the matter.

If attention is drawn to the overall issue, the member of UGC (private university) Prof. Dr. Biswajit Chand said that according to the rules, if there is a complaint against someone, UGC takes necessary action according to the law after verification. And if someone makes a false complaint, action is also taken against him.

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