A MEDIA report published on Friday made a stunning disclosure of financial irregularities at Dhaka University amounting to around Tk 75 million, mostly in a single year is quite shocking. The issue came up for discussion in parliamentary standing committee meeting on Thursday. It covers half a dozen irregularities including tax of teachers and employees paid by the varsity, deduction of house rent at lower rates and huge undue allowances paid to teachers and employees.
The Comptroller and Auditor General has raised an audit objection of over Tk 17 million alone in fiscal 2013-14. The total picture over the years is out of sight but may be quite devastating. One may rightly wonder if such a huge money is being unlawfully grabbed in a single year in one public university, what may be the total in all public universities over the years.
Seven irregularities dominated discussion in the committee meeting and as per the report it has rightly asked the Dhaka university authorities to deduct the paid up tax, bills and other allowances from the salaries of the concerned teachers and employees to settle the audit objections. Teachers and employees are required to pay tax on their own; there is no option in the law that it be paid from varsity fund.
Some audit objections said the university suffered a loss of over Tk 12.7 million alone for realising house rent from the salaries of teachers and employees living in university quarters at a rate less than the government-fixed rates. The parliamentary committee has ordered to set up a committee to fix the problems without delay but who cares. There are plenty of such recommendations but their compliances are not followed.
The objections further held the varsity authorities accountable for paying teachers and employees over Tk 15.4 million as fatigue allowances in fiscal 2013-14, although this is not allowed since 2010. Irregularities were also found related to VAT on rents and bills, research allowances, payment to teachers who did not return after study leave and such others.
We are shocked for the fact that the famous Dhaka University’s good name is so badly foiled. It is frustrating for the education system. We cannot all be worshipers of corruption and mendacity.
The Comptroller and Auditor General has raised an audit objection of over Tk 17 million alone in fiscal 2013-14. The total picture over the years is out of sight but may be quite devastating. One may rightly wonder if such a huge money is being unlawfully grabbed in a single year in one public university, what may be the total in all public universities over the years.
Seven irregularities dominated discussion in the committee meeting and as per the report it has rightly asked the Dhaka university authorities to deduct the paid up tax, bills and other allowances from the salaries of the concerned teachers and employees to settle the audit objections. Teachers and employees are required to pay tax on their own; there is no option in the law that it be paid from varsity fund.
Some audit objections said the university suffered a loss of over Tk 12.7 million alone for realising house rent from the salaries of teachers and employees living in university quarters at a rate less than the government-fixed rates. The parliamentary committee has ordered to set up a committee to fix the problems without delay but who cares. There are plenty of such recommendations but their compliances are not followed.
The objections further held the varsity authorities accountable for paying teachers and employees over Tk 15.4 million as fatigue allowances in fiscal 2013-14, although this is not allowed since 2010. Irregularities were also found related to VAT on rents and bills, research allowances, payment to teachers who did not return after study leave and such others.
We are shocked for the fact that the famous Dhaka University’s good name is so badly foiled. It is frustrating for the education system. We cannot all be worshipers of corruption and mendacity.
