Sylhet Bureau :
Sylhet Medical University, the fourth of its kind in the country, started functioning in 2018. It is now temporarily housed at Chowhatta in Sylhet City. For its permanent campus, 100 acres of land have been acquired in South Surma Upazila under Sylhet district.
It has been alleged that 109 officers and employees have been appointed surplus. These persons have been appointed from UGC high profile officials’ kindred, nearest kindred and those of pro government political leaders.
In 2018, former Principal of Sylhet M A G Osmani Medical College Dr. Murshed Ahmed Chowdhury has been appointed Vice-Chancellor. As per allegation for nepotism and appointment business, a three-member inquiry committee led by UGC Member Prof.
Bishwajit Chanda has been formed by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The team visited the university on November 16th last. Against 112 posts approved by UGC, 174 officers and employees are working now. Irregularity has been detected in 109 posts.
The university authority didn’t submit the permission for any grant of those 109 posts.
The probe body found VC’s brother-in-law’s wife Fahima Khatun Chowdhury has been appointed Deputy Director, VC’s brother in-law’s son Gazi Md. Faraz has been appointed Mass Communication Officer, former Awami League MP Zebun Nessa Haque’s son has been appointed too.
VC Prof. Murshed Chowdury told the probe body that there was no officer in the university. He then appointed Additional Director (finance and accounts) Md. Noimul Haque Chowdhury of Shahjala University of Science and Technology as per time director of his university. The probe body declared appointment of 8 Deans null and void and asked to refund money they took, to the treasury of the university. The probe body asked the university to appoint important portfolio like Registrar, Inspector of colleges, Controller of Examinations, Director (finance and accounts), Director (planning and development), through open advertisement. Temporary or part-time or additional duty is illegal for these posts.
Meanwhile, the probe committee suggested the university authority not to extend the tenure of service of those who have been appointed temporarily.
Low quality delicious food being sold: Sylhet’s market is full of low quality delicacies food. It can be seen on the spot that low quality biscuits, chanachur, chips, murali and other delicacies are being sold freely in the alleys of different alleys of the City and district. Unknowingly, the parents are giving these foods to the children.
Among the buyers, these foods are mostly bought by women. But they do not know where these foods are being made. Artificial dyes, chemicals, low quality flour and burnt oil are used to make these foods. The prepared food does not have any specific packet, production period and expiration date.
A class of unscrupulous traders is selling these foods in the open in an unhealthy environment in the alleys of the market.
District administration is silent on this issue. In this regard, the locals said, if they are brought under the law by conducting regular mobile courts, the sale of these substandard food items will be greatly reduced.
Doctors say that eating such low quality food is very harmful for health. These foods increase the risk of children suffering from kidney, liver damage, jaundice and other complex diseases. Before purchasing these foods, parents are advised to check the production period of the body and see if it is BSTI approved.
