PSTU in deep crisis as UGC stops funding

The UGC decision was taken at a meeting on July 3 after a two-member audit team submitted its report following a visit to the university.

The team during audit from March 1 to June 30 detected corruption and financial irregularities by VC Prof Dr Wahid-uz-Zaman, sources at PSTU said.

During the visit, the team asked the VC to operate all PSTU bank accounts with joint signature of himself and treasurer Dr. Prof. Abdul Latif Masum. As the VC did not abide by the instruction, the UGC stopped disbursement of 2nd, 3rd and 4th installments of annual allocation, amounting about Tk 7 crore, the sources said. The audit covered 15 months' accounts of PSTU from March 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005, the sources said.

The audit team in its report to the UGC submitted a nine-point objection involving Tk 53,90,414. These included Tk 4.73 lakh undue expenditure without voucher, Tk 8.02 lakh excess expenditure on house rent, Tk 3.30 lakh expenditure on purchase of cell phones, Tk 2.88 lakh excess expenditure as festival bonus, Tk. 2.28 lakh on repair of vehicles, Tk 1.14 lakh excess expenditure in the name of allowance and Tk 34, 353 as VAT, the sources said.

When contacted, PSTU Treasurer Dr. Abdul Latif Masum said yesterday, "I hope the UGC will release funds soon in the interest of the university". He returned here on Thursday after staying about a week in Dhaka, meeting UGC officials, sources said.

This correspondent went to the university twice yesterday to meet the VC. His secretary Asadul Haq Tarique said the VC will not meet the press. Earlier, attempts were made to contact the VC on his cell phone and land phone but Tarique failed to fix any appointment for the correspondent.

Because of the financial crisis, the university authorities paid staff salaries for the month of July by borrowing from the retirement fund, the sources said.

Deputy Registrar Imran Hossain said, "Our salary problem has been solved for the time being".

About two months back, some local elite formed a civic body to 'save' the university. It is headed by Patuakhali district BNP vice-president MA Rob.

The committee at a press conference at Patuakhali Press Club earlier demanded removal of the VC for his alleged corruption and financial irregularities.

At the press conference, Prof. Baha Uddin Bahar, member -secretary of the civic body, in a 13-page written statement alleged that since his joining in May 2004, the VC has been involved in corruption and flouting rules.

Sources at the university said Section 18 of university ordinance provides for 25 members in its Regent Board, the highest decision making body, but the VC formed the body with only 13 members. So, the Regent Board is virtually ineffective, they claimed.

The Regent Board held only two meetings since its formation on February 26, 2002 though as per rule it should meet every three months, they said.

As per Section 29, formation of a finance committee is mandatory fort audit of income and expenditure but it is yet to be formed. All accounts are being maintained by an accountant, Jasim Uddin, appointed by the VC. There is a treasurer but the VC is yet to delegate him financial power, the sources claimed. The accountant, appointed on ad-hoc basis, does all accounts work as per the VC's instruction, they said.