Chattogram: The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated legal proceedings against the former vice-chancellor and treasurer of Southern University Bangladesh (SUB), charging them with the embezzlement of over Taka 6 crore from the university's provident and emergency funds.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the accused individuals are Professor Engineer Md. Mozammel Haque, the former vice chancellor of the university, and Dr. Sarwar Jahan, the treasurer. The case was officially filed at the ACC District Office, Chittagong-1, under the relevant sections of the Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.
ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations) Md. Akhtarul Islam has confirmed the registration of the case. The ACC's investigation revealed that Dr. Sarwar Jahan had misappropriated Taka 63,68,730 from the university's provident fund. Additionally, he allegedly made an unauthorized payment of Taka 88,738 for the salary of an employee tied to a Bank Asia agent banking branch operating under the university's name, without appropriate approval or documentation.
The investigation further uncovered that Dr. Sarwar Jahan, in collaboration with Professor Md. Mozammel Haque, reportedly disbursed Taka 28,89,990 to an individual named Mohammad Ilyas, purportedly for loan repayment. However, there was no record of such a loan.
The funds in question were allegedly withdrawn through an account opened in the name of Southern University at First Security Islami Bank PLC, back in 2010. Investigators discovered that all deposits made to this account up until June 2024 had been completely withdrawn, leaving no balance.
The corruption is said to have occurred over a 14-year span, from May 2010 to June 2024, involving various accounts and transactions associated with Southern University Bangladesh, based in Chattogram.