Published: 12:20 PM, 28 June 2026
IAU VC accused of sweeping recruitment violations
Islamic Arabic University (IAU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Abu Jafor Khan has been accused of making a series of controversial appointments to key administrative and academic posts by allegedly bypassing university service rules, University Grants Commission directives, and statutory hiring protocols.
Disgruntled university officials have filed written complaints with the Ministry of Education, the UGC, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), alleging widespread irregularities.
According to the campus sources, the university service rules mandate that professor recruitments must go through open circulars, regular promotions, or official deputations from the Ministry of Education. However, two recently appointed professors were reportedly hired directly by the VC using his executive powers, bypassing all established channels. They were subsequently made deans of two separate faculties in direct violation of existing service rules, the complainants alleged.
Officials further claimed that crucial positions, including the director of finance and accounts, the controller of examinations, and two deans, were filled without prior approval from the university syndicate. Recently, Abu Bakar, a deputy registrar from Patuakhali Science and Technology University, was appointed as the director of finance and accounts.
Sources alleged that Abu Bakar lacks relevant financial management experience and reportedly holds a third division in his academic career, though these claims could not be independently verified.
Earlier, Mohammad Emdadul Haque was reportedly appointed as the controller of examinations without syndicate approval.
He later withdrew his joining letter following a backlash over the procedural breach.
IAU Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Shahidul Islam, who is a member of the recruitment board, expressed ignorance about the finance director's appointment. "The VC completes recruitments without consulting any board members. He informs us only after the appointments are made and subsequently forces them through the syndicate for validation," he said.
UGC Member Abdullah Al Mamun stated that the relevant department has been instructed to investigate the allegations. "Necessary action will be taken if irregularities are found," he said.
IAU VC Mohammad Abu Jafor Khan, however, could not be reached over the phone despite repeated attempts for his comment in this connection.
The ongoing controversy comes despite a special 2024 UGC circular issued following prior financial and recruitment anomalies at the university.
The directive specifically prohibited hiring for key administrative positions like registrar, finance director, and exam controller via lien, mandating instead that officers be appointed on deputation through the education ministry, a directive approved by the IAU syndicate but allegedly ignored in recent appointments.
