Pro-VC’s Daughter Appointed CU Lecturer Despite Ranking Below 11 Candidates

Mahira Shamim, daughter of Chittagong University (CU) Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Dr Mohammed Shamim Uddin Khan, has been appointed lecturer in the Finance department even though she lagged behind in departmental results. The appointment was approved in the university’s 565th syndicate meeting held in the vice-chancellor’s conference room on Friday (January 9). The recruitment board for the post was held on December 19 last year.

It is learnt that after the mass uprising on August 5, 2024, the new administration formulated a new teacher recruitment policy to restore transparency in university appointments. Under this policy, 78 teachers have so far been appointed at CU. In the latest 565th syndicate, 18 new teachers were appointed in various departments. Earlier, 38 teachers were appointed in the 564th syndicate. Thus, a total of 78 teachers have been appointed during this administration, including 56 in the last two syndicates.

On August 19 last year, authorities published an advertisement in newspapers for teacher recruitment in the Finance department. Four lecturer posts were mentioned. A notice signed by the registrar stated that the recruitment test for the Finance department was fixed for December 19. It was mentioned that the test would be held in the vice-chancellor’s office room.

A total of 51 candidates applied for the four lecturer posts in the Finance department. University sources said one post is against an assistant professor and another against an associate professor while lecturers will be appointed.

A notice published by the registrar’s office shows Mahira Shamim’s name at serial 43 in the list of 51 applicants for the Finance department.

Departmental results show Mahira Shamim obtained CGPA 3.80 in her bachelor’s degree. Eleven other candidates in the department scored higher CGPA. The top candidate obtained CGPA 3.95. Besides, two candidates scored 3.90, one scored 3.89, two scored 3.84, two scored 3.82 and three scored 3.80.

The appointment of the pro-vice chancellor’s daughter has triggered discussion and criticism in various circles of the university. Today Monday (January 12), Chittagong University unit Chhatra Majlis president Sakib Mahmud Rumi sarcastically displayed a placard. Standing in front of Dr A R Mallik Bhaban on campus, he held a placard reading, “Baba, will you give me one appointment?”

On the matter, Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Shamim Uddin Khan said he was not involved in any way with the Finance department recruitment. I am not even a member of the recruitment board. I do not know how the recruitment board is functioning. My daughter only applied there. Besides, the university vice-chancellor can speak better on this as he is the chairman of the recruitment board.

When contacted, CU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Yahia Akhtar said we are appointing university teachers through several stages of screening candidates. There is no scope for nepotism or bias here. We have invited everyone to come and observe whether our recruitment process is transparent. But no one has paid heed to our words.

He said we first take written examination. Candidates passing the written test are then screened through demonstration. Those passing there have to appear in the final viva voce. The best candidates among those performing well in the three tests are selected for appointment.

He further said the current administration of Chittagong University is appointing teachers with complete neutrality. Yet in three larger universities of the country, teachers are appointed only through viva. This is not a proper process. If appointment is given only through viva, there is scope for bias.