GSTU assistant registrar serves legal notice to registrar over higher education permission

A legal notice has been served on the registrar of Gopalganj Science and Technology University (GSTU) over allegations that the university denied Assistant Registrar Sajidur Rahman permission to pursue higher education and subjected him to harassment by applying allegedly unjust rules.

Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Md Iqbal Hossain sent the legal notice on August 3 on behalf of Sajidur Rahman, an assistant registrar of GSTU’s SSDM Department.

According to the notice, Sajidur had applied under university rules to study for a master's degree in Public Administration at the University of Dhaka. Classes for the programme are held only on Fridays and Saturdays, which are weekly holidays. Therefore, his studies would not interfere with his regular official duties, the notice said.

The notice alleges that the GSTU administration did not properly dispose of his application. Instead, it cited Section 17 of the Government Service Act, 2018, and higher education-related policies to create obstacles to his pursuing the degree.

Legal notice questions application of government service law

The notice argues that the Government Service Act, 2018, does not directly apply to officers and employees of public universities. It cites Section 1(3) of the Act in support of this position.

It further states that GSTU is governed by its own law and statutes. Therefore, using an allegedly inapplicable law to restrict an employee from pursuing higher education is contrary to administrative fairness, according to the notice.

The notice demands that Sajidur’s application be reconsidered under the university’s own laws and regulations and that the alleged obstacles created through application of the Government Service Act, 2018, be removed.

It also asks the university to provide a written explanation if there is any legal reason for not approving the application and to stop the alleged administrative complications and harassment.

The university has been given seven working days from receipt of the notice to resolve the matter. Otherwise, Sajidur Rahman may seek appropriate legal remedies through the courts, the notice said.

GSTU registrar's response

GSTU Registrar Md Enamuzzaman said he had heard about the legal notice but had not received it as he was on leave.

“Sajid has applied for a fourth master’s degree, but under the law he cannot pursue more than two. Since the vice-chancellor is new, he has asked that the matter be kept on hold for now,” Enamuzzaman said.

He added that Sajidur had been asked to apply after six months if a new course is introduced, with the possibility of special consideration.

“Sending a lawyer’s notice without making an application is ridiculous. I have been a registrar since 2006 and have never seen such a legal notice over such a minor matter,” he said.