RU amends ordn to favour JCD leader

Vice-Chancellor Prof Altaf Hossain approved the amendments incorporating five fresh sections on October 11 without consulting the academic council, sources alleged.

The amendments will allow the faculty students a maximum of eight years to pass honours examinations. Earlier the time frame was six years. Moreover, if any student could not even pass within eight years, he will be given a 'pass certificate'.

According to sources, the authorities recently allowed RU JCD joint convenor Dewan Harun-ur Rashid, who has already failed BBA honours examinations twice during his six-year study, to sit for the examination for the third time without following necessary procedures.

Dr Meherul Islam Khan, chairman of the finance and banking department, said that Rashid was allowed to sit for the examination although he did not fill up forms as a decision to allow more students like him was under way.

But teachers and students of the department said there are no other students who need such amendments.

At a meeting of a sub-committee on the amendment on October 10, faculty Dean Prof Omar Ali proposed some amendments in favour of the JCD leader, but all the faculty members strongly opposed the move, sources said.

RU teachers and students expressed concern over the decision and protested the new ordinance.

A senior teacher of the faculty said the VC has no right to approve an ordinance without consulting the academic committee, faculty members and academic council.

The ordinance was amended only to produce some low-quality graduates, he said.

When contacted, VC Prof Altaf Hossain said the amendment would be reconsidered if the academic council and faculty committees do not agree to it.