M M Jasim :
The government is likely to approve opening of more new private universities in different parts of the country. The influential quarters have already started lobbing to get ownership of these new private universities, the Education Ministry sources said.
The Education Ministry may soon send the name of 10 new private universities to Prime Minister’s office for approval.
Sources said that, the Education Ministry received 135 applications from different quarters. On July 24, the Ministry sent a letter to University Grants Commission (UGC) to know about the latest condition of the applications. Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry Fatema Jahan signed the letter. The Ministry will select 10 of them after getting the nod from UGC and will place to PM for final approval.
Earlier, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid told the media men that it was their routine job to establish new private university. “We will establish new universities where the people deprive of higher education to extend the education,” he said.
Secretary of Education Ministry Dr Mohammad Sadik told The New Nation that they did not select any university for approval.
He also admitted that many applications were waiting in his Ministry.
Sources said that four universities out of 10 would be established in Gazipur, Bogra, Mymensingh and Pabna. Two Ministers of the government are behind the establishment of two universities in Gazipur and Mymensingh.
The relatives of Religious Minister Principal Md Matiur Rahman have applied for a new university in Mymensingh named Mymensingh International University.
Religious Minister Principal Md Matiur Rahman admitted that his daughters wanted to establish a university in Mymensingh. He just given support, otherwise nothing.
Liberation War Affairs Minister A K M Mozammel Haque provided support to establish Bengal University of Gazipur. A K M Mozammel Haque also rejected outright the allegation brought against him.
S M Iqbal Hossain, a citizen of Gopalganj, applied to get approval to establish an university in Bogra named Bogra University where Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim recommended.
A top level official of PM’s office is behind the Rajshahi Shah Makhdum International University. The Ministry’s attitude is positive to give approval of aforesaid university.
A N M Shamsul Islam MP applied to get approval of International Islami University, Businessman M A Quaium for Khulna Digital University, Nazrul Islam Babu MP for Narayanganj Western International University and Sonargaon University, Lion M K Bashar for Cambrian University, National Professor Dr M R Khan for Central University of Science and Technology, Professor Quazi Kamruzzaman for Community University, Engineer A K M Abu Rayhan for Kishoregonj Oriental University and Md Osman Gani for Cosmopolitan University.
It may be mentioned there are 79 private universities in Bangladesh. It will be 89 if the Ministry gives approval.
