Sylhet: A court on Sunday ordered eight officials and employees of Sylhet Medical University to be sent to jail in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The Sylhet Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Munshi Abdul Majid, directed their imprisonment after they surrendered to the court. The accused are Procurement Officer Abdul Monir, Section Officer Rinku Das, Chowdhury Ruman Ahmed, and Lokman Ahmed, Administrative Officer Suranjit Chandra Talukdar, Robiul Alam Bakul, Mohammad Rashedul Islam, and Office Assistant-cum-Computer Operator Ruhul Amin.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the ACC case statement highlights allegations of widespread irregularities in staff recruitment at the university, first reported by the University Grants Commission (UGC). A 2023 UGC investigation found former Vice-Chancellor Morshed Ahmed Chowdhury and Acting Registrar Md. Naimul Haque Chowdhury had misused their power.
The ACC revealed that the officials made adhoc appointments between 2019 and 2023 without UGC approval, repeatedly extending six-month temporary contracts beyond the allowed period, in violation of the Sylhet Medical University Act. Salaries for unauthorized positions were paid from the Health Ministry’s development budget.
The investigation further uncovered that several appointees lacked the required age, educational qualifications, or relevant experience. In some instances, employees were promoted illegally despite deficiencies in eligibility, and appointments were made without proper degree requirements.
Currently, the university employs 239 individuals, of which 112 posts are UGC-approved. The remaining 127 hold non-approved positions, with their salaries unlawfully paid from ministry funds.