Of the six private universities that got approval on Sunday to launch, ruling Awami League leaders are associated with all but one.
Political backing appears to have been a crucial factor in getting them the permission.
According to the education ministry and University Grants Commission officials, the prime minister’s relative Sheikh Kabir Hossain is associated with Far East International University that got approval to run academic activities in Dhaka.
Former Rajshahi University vice chancellor and Awami League advisory council member Professor Dr Abdul Khaleque’s wife Rasheda Khaleque is associated with North Bengal International University in Rajshahi. Ruling party Whip Mirza Azam is associated with Sheikh Fazilatunnesa University in Jamalpur, officials said.
A former Chattra League president is associated with the owners of Rajshahi Science and Technology University in Natore and a local Awami League leader is among the owners of Cox’s Bazar International University.
Former UGC chairman Nazrul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune recently that during his tenure he had advised the education ministry not to give permission to any more universities in Dhaka as the capital was already saturated with them.
Endorsing politically-backed private universities is a practice that has been going on since the time of BNP-led alliance government’s tenure. The BNP government during its 2001-2006 tenure, gave permission to 36 private universities. A number of them were backed by BNP and Jamaat leaders or businessmen associated with these parties.
Out of the 77 private universities in the country, only 10-12 are properly functioning, according to the University Grants Commission.
In March 2012, the current government gave permission to eight new private universities, sponsors of most of which were ruling party leaders.
Home Minister MK Alamgir is the trustee board chairman of European University, which was among the eight.
Sylhet’s Gopalganj upazila Awami League President Iqbal Ahmed Chowdhury is the trustee board chairman of North East University.
Ruling party MP Salaiman Haque Joarder is the chairman of First Capital University that received permission to open its campus at Chuadanga in 2012.
Former Chattra League president Liakat Shikdar is associated with Barendra University in Rajshahi which got permission in 2012.
Port City International University in Chittagong got permission in November, 2012.
Former Chattra League president AKM Enamul Hoque Shameem is the founder and vice chairman of board of trustees of this university.
When contacted, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said universities that got approval were approved on the basis of their qualifications and not political consideration.
He said they had been given permission after scrutiny and if they failed to perform, the ministry would take action against them as per the Private University Act of 2010.
