11. The Crisis starts here (Two)

11. The Crisis starts here (Two)

According to Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council Act anybody willing to conduct courses for granting ,medical degrees and diplomas must have secured the prior permission of the Government failing which he might be fined or imprisoned.

This is .the only protection to the GOB to control the medical education in Bangladesh. The act is silent about the authority of any regulatory body established for the aforesaid purpose knowing fully well that the ministry of health and family welfare has been working in this sector as a tradition without any statute.

Following establishment of private universities in 1992 and afterwards the matter first time threw the ministry of health into an awkward situation. One of the first generation private universities stood against the authority of the ministry of health and even did not allow inspection teams of the ministry to conduct an inquiry. A few months later everything was suppressed by political initiatives.

Our politicians have had the tendency to be blessed with the intelligentsia and opinion leaders. So, they never try to stand against any persons known as reputed one. Even the father of the nation Sk. Mujibur Rahman, the most influential president and founder of the BNP, the party that ruled Bangladesh for long fifteen years on three to four terms could not deny such people.

So, if one can make himself he can rule the law (?) and the rulers as well.
This has the case in all most all aspects of our national life and may be one of the major causes of our becoming the ‘most corrupt of the corrupt countries’ on the Transparency International (TI) survey. .

The 1973 University Ordinance framed by the Government of the Sk. Mujibur Rahman gave maximum freedom to the public university teachers who once appointed can become an Assistant Professor in three years without any publication. He can become an Associate Professor after securing of postgraduate degree from any country of his choice with a minimum of publications.

Instances are there where promotions were given without getting the articles published. It was only on getting the so called acceptance letter from such journals which had never been published. The Associate Professors are eligible to be the chairman of the department which is often placed under voting or negotiation. Right from the lecturer level he can participate in the University Teacher’s Association activities, become an office bearer and represent in different bodies. So, an active teacher can easily become a figure head and can be instrumental in university politics which has a major role in university appointment and promotion.

The 1973 ordinance is widely regarded as a democratic instrument because it contains provision for franchise in all aspects of university activities. The department heads are elected, the Deans are elected, the Academic Council is also represented by representatives of the lecturers, Asstt. and Associate Professors besides, all Professors. The syndicate and the senate is also represented by such people.

Affiliated college principles and Registered graduates have their representations too. Although it appears that the public universities are comparatively free, the freedom is questionable. In each and every step the Government machinery interferes. So, very soon each and every university become a field of tripartite power struggle among the teacher’s divided in groups, the beau crates and politicians.

The most burning example of government interference involves in the appointment of Vice Chancellors who appointed from a panel of three securing number one to three position in voting in person. The Chancellor of universities either the head of state or Govt. is empowered to appoint any body. This was the example of our University autonomy. It most surprising that no party did ever talked about it. Possibly they know the benefits.

If somehow rather the most popular man becomes the Vice Chancellor very soon he will find a contingent of enemies in his own lobby including the opponents. The friends become very serious o get benefits. While the opponents need his ouster as early as possible. The lancers ( students) are ready their to fight for them who create such situations that keep close the university for months together.

Teachers get salaries regularly. University pays for all other ancillary approved costs and facilities. but the students fall pray to session jams. Many them lose their eligibility to seek a public service.

My Words

Nine

_ A bad manager always claims sincerity though he is the most insincere man.

Abul Kashem Minto