Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has asked Transparency International Bangladesh to come up with specific proof of government’s corruption in the private univarsities or seek apology for it's recent report.
The TIB on June 30, released a report on the state of the private universities in Bangladesh, alleging that a section of officials at the Education Ministry, the University Grants Commission and private universities were involved in corruption at different stages in the private universities.
While talking on the private-member resolutions moved by independent MP Salim Uddin Tarafder (Naogaon-3), the education minister termed “ill-motivated” the report styled “Private Universities: Challenges of Good Governance and Way-out” aimed at embarrassing the government.
“They have made some allegations without giving any specific examples. Either you have to show instance or withdraw the report…Nobody has right to mislead the people,” Nurul Islam told the assembly that went into sitting with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
“The TIB has no evidence of corruption allegations. It claimed that they had been carrying out the investigation for the last two years, but never talked to the officials of the ministry.
This report is baseless. Either you have to come up with specific instance or you have to seek apology; it has no alternative,” he said in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He also said his ministry has already started investigation into the allegations the TIB raised in its report.
The TIB's research report said approval of a private university cost illegal transactions of money between Tk1 crore and Tk3 crore. For a fake certificate, the amount is between Tk50,000 and Tk3 lakh.
According to the report, the private universities must pay bribe between Tk50,000 and Tk1 lakh for getting permission and submitting their audit reports to the Education Ministry.
The amount of bribe for getting approval for the appointment of vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor and treasurer ranges between Tk50,000 and Tk2 lakh, the report said.
The study was conducted on 22 out of 79 private universities between 2012 and 2014.
In a statement on Wednesday, the TIB asserted that it had carried out the study on private universities to help establish good governance in this sector, but not to undermine any individual or institution.