BCL-leaders asked for share of development fund: JU VC

Dhaka, Sept 13 – JU Vice-Chancellor Professor Farzana Islam on Friday told journalists that central Chhatra League told her to give them 4-6 percent of project money from the construction companies who got tender of development project worth of Tk. 1445 core. While talking to the journalists, she said, ‘BCL President Shovon and Secretary Rabbani came to my residence on August 8. They told me to give some percent money from the companies who have gotten the tender of the mega project. They pressurized me as I did not agree with them’.
She protested this with the BCL Secretary of Central Committee Golam Rabbani as he made allegations against JU VC’s husband and son of dealing of a large amount of money from the construction company, that has been published different national dailies.
Terming allegation baseless JU VC said, ‘Allegation by BCL secretary Rabbni that we gave Tk 1.62 cores to JU unit BCL is totally false and motivated. No money was given to the JU BCL unit from the development project money’.
‘Neither my son nor I did call Shovon and Rabbani before Eid-ul-Adha. They willingly came to my residence to meet me and demanded the project money. They pressurised me as I did not agree with them’, she added.
Earlier, BCL President Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon and Secretary Golam Rabbani wrote a letter to Prime Minister that has been published yesterday in national dailies.
In the letter they said, Jahangirngar University authorities gave Tk. 1.62 cores to the unit Chhatra League before Eid-ul-Azha. Since giving of a large amount of money to JU unit Chhatra League, unrest was in the campus at the instance of a rival group. Then, JU VC called us to resolve the matter.
The JU BCL did not agree to give a comment in this connection. Talking to JU BCL President Jewel Rana said, ‘We have no comment right now. We will give a press release after discussing the matter with the other senior leaders’.
However, the counter-statement of the JU Vice-Chancellor and BCL president secretary created controversy on the campus.
The demonstrators said such counter-allegations will made deepen JU crisis as it proves that corruption has occurred in the mega project.
Anti-VC teacher Professor Khabir Uddin said, ‘The matter of corruption has already been proven. JU VC took three working days to decide how she would form a judicial inquiry to investigate the matter. On Wednesday, she wanted to sit with us again. But, it may be fruitless as the evidence of corruption is come to light after the counter allegations from Chhatra League and JU VC’.
Ashikur Rahman, organizer of ‘Jahangirnagar against Corruption’ said, ‘We will wait till next Wednesday as JU VC assured us for taking the initiative of forming probe body over corruption. We will further toughen movement if our demand related to corruption is not met’.
Meanwhile, university authorities have accepted the two-point demands of the demonstrator who have been demonstrating to protest alleged corruption of the authorities and unplanned development work on the campus.
Their two demands were – relocating dormitories from Bishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore hall, forming a judicial probe body for investigating corruption against her and review of the master plan mega project.
To resolve the matter, JU authorities sat with the demonstrators at the counselling room on the campus on Thursday afternoon.
The meeting continues till 9.30 pm where JU Vice-Chancellor Professor Farzana Islam was in the chair.
JU VC agreed to accept the demand of relocating dormitories and review of the master plan while she has taken three working days to consider their demand of forming judicial inquiry, confirmed JU acting registrar Rahima Kaniz to Journalists.
‘JU authorities have taken three working days to decide how we can proceed to form a judicial inquiry after discussing with other stakeholders of the authorities. We will sit with the demonstrators again on next Wednesday in this regard’, she said.
JU Pro (Administration) Professor Md Amir Hussain, Pro VC (Academic) Professor Md Nurul Alam and Treasurer Professor Sheikh Md Monzurul Huq were present at the meeting.
Mentionable, the agitated students of JU have been demonstrating on the campus since August 23 demanding the relocation of three male students’ dormitories which the authorities planned to construct near Rabindranath Hall and a judicial probe into the allegations of corruption and irregularities took place before the approval of these megaprojects.
The students and teachers also protested against the corruption of the authorities and unplanned development works that would endanger the biodiversity of the campus. – Staff Reporter