UGC sounds warning about 12 private universities

The University Grants Commission (UGC) yesterday cautioned guardians and students about 12 private universities using unapproved campuses, facing board of trustees conflicts, or otherwise flouting the Private University Act, 2010, according to a press release.

The commission said students and guardians should seek information about these universities before deciding to attend them.

“This was done to caution students and their guardians so that students are not deceived by being admitted to crisis-torn universities,” UGC chairman AK Azad Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“We have recommended to the Education Ministry that they take action against universities that are not abiding by the law,” he added.

In a press release signed by UGC deputy secretary Shamsul Arefin, the commission announced that four universities' board of trustees were affected by conflict between members and were using unapproved campuses. Two institutions had their licenses cancelled by the government but were operating under court orders, and another six were using campuses that were not approved.

The institutions whose boards are driven by conflict are Darul Ihsan University, IBAIS University, Prime University and Southern University, Chittagong. These four universities are operating on campuses that have not been approved, but continue to function under the aegis of court orders.

The government earlier cancelled the licenses of Queens University and America Bangladesh University but they remain in business under favourable court orders.

Six universities are running unapproved campuses, commissioners said. They are International Islamic University, Chittagong; Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology; The People's University of Bangladesh; Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology; Northern University Bangladesh; BGC Trust University, Bangladesh. Two more universities Northern University and BGC Trust University have obtained court orders in their favour.

The press release said the UGC was investigating irregularities at private universities and said they would issue a list of universities operating improperly.