Photo shows a building at the Sylhet Engineering College in Sylhet — FE Photo SYLHET, Jan 31: The government-run Sylhet Engineering College has been running without permanent principal for 16 years.
The college, established on an area of eight acres in the Tilagar-Alurtal area of the city in 2005, started its academic activities in 2007.
According to college sources, around fifty posts out of total 70 have remained vacant for long. Of them, three posts of professors have been vacant. There are only two associate professors against eight posts, seven assistant professors against 15 posts and eight Lecturers against 16 posts.
Moreover, there are only three officials and employees against 26 posts. The post of Librarian, Registrar have been vacant too.
Some students told this correspondent that it is being run by guest teachers from various institutions like MC College, Technical Institute etc. The Acting Registrar, posted on deputation, has to manage the institution's administrative activities mainly.
After visiting the campus, this correspondent came to know that there are three departments: Electrical & Electronic Engineering (CEE), Civil Engineering (CE) and Computer Science & Engineering (CSE). These departments offer 4-year BSc Engineering courses.
Head of Computer Science & Engineering Department Abdur Rouf has been in charge of acting Principal. He said, "About 60 students in each of the three departments get admitted every year. Besides, the engineering department would be opened soon. It's tough to run the institution with hired teachers."
Due to acute shortage of teachers, officials and employees, students suffered for academic activities at the college. They can not use laboratories in the absence of staff there. Since the post of Librarian has been lying vacant, the facility is being managed by a class III employee, alleged some students.
Acting Principal Rouf said, "We had requested the authorities for appointment of teachers and others from the PSC".
Meanwhile, some students also alleged that the authority took no steps at all to convert the institution as Engineering University although Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made public announcement in this regard at a rally in the Sylhet city in 2018.
Some students said that the PM had announced the matter at a public rally in the city and since then they had been eagerly waiting to see the institution's upgrading as a full fledged Engineering University.
The students held protests on several occasions for implementation of the announcement, but unfortunately it is yet to happen.
They demanded immediate appointment of permanent teachers, officials and employees and make the institution a full-fledged Engineering University.
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