Several leading public universities face criticism over negligence of duty, giving undue privileges to student bodies of ruling party, arranging special facilities for families and, for adopting unethical practices over appointment.
Specialists say that the whole process of appointing VCs is suspect and has to change.
VCs at different universities had to step down in the face of student protests in the last one year.
VC of Barishal University, SM Imamul Huq, was forced to go on leave and, faced with many complaints, VC of Noakhali University of Science and Technology, M Wahiduzzaman, left the campus.
The main accusation against Wahiduzzaman was that he prevented University Grants Commission, UGC, from investigating allegations against him.
Former chairman of UGC, Abdul Mannan, said: “There are problems over the appointment of VCs and the government needs to be more alert about this.”
At the beginning of September, VC Farzana Islam of Jahangirnagar University faced criticism for promising to give Chhatra League a huge TK 10 million tip for some development work involving billions.
In this incident, two Chhatra League leaders Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon and Golam Rabbani lost their posts but no action was taken against the VC.
For the last one week, VC of Gopalganj Bangabandhu University of Science and Technology, Dr Khondokar Nasir Uddin, has been facing criticism for expelling students over comments made on social media and for harassing guardians.
Students in Gopalganj have been protesting what they allege to be the VC’s objectionable behavior for some time.
The VC of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, never stays in campus and is always in Dhaka. He does all his work in Dhaka and uses the university car for personal use, it is alleged.
The main allegation against him is that in 340 days of work, he was present in Rangpur for only 90 days.
The VC of Dhaka University, Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, declared DUCSU after 28 years but he also faces criticism. It’s alleged that he relied on student bodies of ruling party to settle problems.
The main allegation against Rajshahi University VC, Abdus Sobhan is that he relaxed academic requirements to give appointments to his daughter and son in law.
Expressing indignation at the irregularities, professor emeritus of Dhaka University, Dr Sirajul Islam Cowdhury, says: “In appointing VCs, no rules are followed and political imperatives are given priority. Since the VCs are appointed politically they develop a sense of invincibility."