UGC Scam: Audit Orders Recovery of Tk 7.63 Crore Over Recruitment & Promotion Anomalies

The Directorate of Education Audit has uncovered a series of continuous irregularities in the recruitment, promotion, and posting of officials at the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh. As these irregularities remain unresolved, the Directorate has issued a directive to return Tk 7,63,63,441 received as salary and allowances through these anomalies. Additionally, the audit office has recommended taking legal action against those involved in these irregularities.

Earlier, UGC Chairman Professor S.M.A. Faiz held a closed-door meeting with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), S.M. Rezvi, at his office regarding these issues. During the meeting, the Chairman requested leniency regarding the audit reports conducted on the UGC. However, the CAG stated that he could not act outside of established rules. Following that sequence, the Audit Directorate is now moving toward a final decision on the UGC audit objections.

According to data, six Serious Financial Irregularities (SFI) were raised during the audit of UGC's accounts for the fiscal years 2022-2023 to 2023-2024. One of these was sent to the report sector on January 4 for further action. The UGC has been formally notified of the matter via letter.

When asked, Md. Kamrul Alam, Director General of the Education Audit Directorate, told The Daily Campus, “After analyzing the documents submitted regarding UGC's audit objections, two objections have been resolved. The rest remain unresolved. The UGC has been informed of this.”

First-place candidate dropped, sixth-place hired

Among the unresolved audits, the Directorate highlighted Paragraph 33. It stated that despite securing the first position in a UGC recruitment exam, the candidate was not hired. Instead, the individual who ranked 6th was appointed. The audit noted that this decision contradicts recruitment rules and administrative transparency.

This irregularity resulted in a consolidated financial loss of Tk 5,56,28,598 during the relevant fiscal year. The UGC failed to produce the full merit list or the marks obtained by the candidates ranked first through sixth.

Promotions in violation of regulations

In audit paragraphs 34 and 61, it was noted that Additional Director Md. Mostafizur Rahman was promoted to the 9th grade or above by violating sections 19(1) and (2) of the UGC Manual 1987. According to the regulations, there was no scope for promotion to those specific class posts. Despite this, he was promoted multiple times. Similarly, several other first-class officers were promoted in violation of the rules.

Dual citizen appointed as Director

According to Paragraph 35, Mohammad Makshudur Rahman Bhuiyan was appointed as Director despite having dual citizenship, and his salary and allowances were paid throughout the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 fiscal years. This caused a financial loss of Tk 30,59,802 to the government. This appointment violated Section 9(2) of the UGC Regulations 1987. The audit has ordered necessary action against the individual and the recovery of the full amount to the UGC fund.

Postings without proof of qualification or experience

Paragraph 36 mentions that three UGC officials were promoted and posted without proof of the required qualifications and experience. No evidence was provided for Deputy Secretary Md. Shahin Siraj's five-year experience in the 6th and 7th grades. Similar lack of evidence was noted for Additional Director Muhammad Nazmul Islam and Additional Director Mohammad Ziaur Rahman regarding their respective grade-level experience requirements.

Recruitment ignoring age limits: Over Tk 1 crore to be returned

In Paragraph 05, the audit found that Moossa Jasmine Parveen was appointed as Director (Additional Charge) despite exceeding the maximum age limit specified in the recruitment circular. Experience in private institutions, which was not acceptable, was considered, and ad-hoc service periods were counted as permanent experience—both violations of regulations.

The audit office has ordered her to return Tk 1,30,40,250. Similarly, another official, Md. Kamruzzaman, was hired past the age limit, and the audit has ordered the recovery of Tk 46,34,791 from him.

The audit authorities stated that unless this money is recovered and administrative action is taken against those responsible, it will be difficult to ensure accountability in UGC’s recruitment and financial management.

When contacted for a comment, UGC Chairman Professor S.M.A. Faiz did not answer his phone. Earlier, questions sent to his official email also remained unanswered.