University teachers living abroad

By Sajjad Toronto, Canada
9 January 2005, 18:00 PM
A few days ago, a committee consisting of some parliament members of Bangladesh adopted a resolution on some teachers of various universities of Bangladesh. These teachers are studying abroad, and are not returning to Bangladesh. The committee maintained that these teachers took money from their respective universities and upon completing their study neither they are coming back, nor are they returning the money. So they will be prosecuted and their photos will be published in newspapers describing their offences, just like criminals. The news has been published in many daily newspapers

In this regard I would like to mention that I was supposed to be a teacher of Dhaka university. I am presently working in Canada. When I left Bangladesh I did not receive any money from the university, I came here on my own. Secondly, the university deposited my basic salary for three years to my account, (Rule: Study Leave). The total amount could be around Tk 3 lakh. I did not draw the money, I think that in the near future I shall come back to Bangladesh, resign and return the money to the university. The same is true about most of the teachers of various universities of Bangladesh who are studying or working (after completion of the course) abroad.

The government has decided what to do with these teachers. I think they should think of the whole situation-- how many of the teachers are staying abroad, how much money they took from the universities etc. It is not an issue that can be resolved by adopting a general principle.