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Fake students at DU

Saturday, 16 June 2007


WHEN the issue of fake students in the Dhaka University came to light some days ago, it created a sensation. The moral decline that had gripped our centres of higher education was manifested in different forms. But here was another very malevolent symptom of that decline -- university admissions managed by a section of the honourable teachers of the universities themselves in exchange of fat amounts of money passed to them under the table. Of course, the involvement of others such as university officials at the university's registrar's office, student leaders and operators of coaching centres, were also noted in these incidents. But what must have upset all concerned ones very badly was the alleged involvement of a section of teachers of the university in the crime.
The teachers are, after all, considered as the moral guardian of the university. If they, too, are associated with such lowly acts, then what remains of integrity or morality in the country's most respected domain of higher education? A conscientious person is bound to be only dumb struck and very disillusioned by such happenings. Some 50 illegal students were found by the inquiry committee that was set up by the university authorities to investigate in response to earlier press reports on the issue. A recent report in the FE stated that 25 more of such cases have been found out by that committee. Thus, one should have no difficulty in understanding that the fake student issue is not an insignificant one that can be casually addressed.
Not only these fake students should be expelled from the university. The opportunities should be forever closed for committing this crime. All involved in the racket must be subjected to penalties. The university authority should not waiver in taking such decisive punitive measures such as dismissing the real guilty ones from the services of the university. Only unflinching actions of this sort now will deter the repetition of such offences in the future not only in the Dhaka University but also in other centres of higher learning in the country.
Mahmud Rashid
Srestha View
Shantinagar, Dhaka