M M Jasim :About two lakh students reading in different private universities are now under threat, as the University Grants Commission (UGC) cancelled all the unapproved outer campuses. Though the UGC says that the students may take transfer to any lawful university if the authority agrees, none has agreed to admit them. As a result, their life has become uncertain and their certificates valueless. Now the UGC says that it has nothing to do if any university does not receive the students. The UGC stopped the activities of the outer campuses of Darul Ehsan University, Prime University, Ibais University, Atish Dipankar Science and Technology University, Southern University, Northern University, Peoples’ University of Bangladesh, BGC Trust University, University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC) and International Islamic University of Chittagong (IIUC). The UGC has also asked the students and their guardians not to read in the aforesaid universities because the universities are doing certificate business in the name of higher education. It said this in November 2014. But now about two lakh students are studying in different semesters in 84 branches. Arif Jaman, an eight semester student of Peoples’ University of Bangladesh, Malibagh Branch, who was supposed to complete study after one year. But he has no scope to continue it as the Malibagh Branch has been closed. The main campus of Peoples’ University of Bangladesh refuses to admit him. The authorities said that they have nothing to do. Jaman went to the UGC and the UGC but to no purpose.Arif Jaman told The New Nation that he completed seven semesters. His life is now on the brink of ruin. His university certificates which he achieved in last three years are now valueless. “What shall I do now? Who will take responsibility of my uncertain life?, he asked. Samia Tahmina, a 9th semester student of Dhanmondi Branch of Darul Ehsan Univeristy, said that she did not know that the quality of university was sub-standard. She spent huge amount of money to continue her study. She had a dream. But the UGC suddenly cancelled the branch and the university lost its approval. What is our fault? Why shall we be the victims? She asked. Like Arif Jaman and Samia Tahmina, thousands of students have lost their valuable times. If they want to continue their studies, they have to admit in first semester in a legal private university. The coordinators of the outer campuses said that they paid a large amount of money to the main campuses to take the approval of the outer campuses. Now the university authorities of the main campuses do not return their money. They have no power to transfer the students to the main campuses. UGC sources said that the UGC did not know that the some private universities were doing certificate business. After learning the matter they ordered to stop such illegal campuses. UGC Chairman Professor AK Azad Chowdhury told The New Nation, “It is indeed that some universities were doing business in the name of higher education. But we cannot approve them. We stopped their activities. But we told the students to move to another campus by transferring the credits.” “We asked the students and their guardians not to admit into any alleged outer campuses of any university. They should be cautious more. But we cannot take their responsibility,” UGC Chairman said. Jesmin Akhter, Deputy Director of Private University Branch of UGC, said that the victim students have to strive hard for getting their rights.
