8 Sylhet Medical University officials jailed in ACC case

The Sylhet Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Munshi Abdul Majid, directed their imprisonment after they surrendered to the court. The accused are Procurement Officer Abdul Monir, Section Officer Rinku Das, Chowdhury Ruman Ahmed, and Lokman Ahmed, Administrative Officer Suranjit Chandra Talukdar, Robiul Alam Bakul, Mohammad Rashedul Islam, and Office Assistant-cum-Computer Operator Ruhul Amin.

Earlier, six other officials of the university had already been jailed in the same case, their bail applications also rejected. ACC lawyer Mahajirul Islam Rahat confirmed the court’s order.

According to the ACC case statement, the university, faced allegations of widespread irregularities in staff recruitment, first reported by the University Grants Commission (UGC).A 2023 UGC investigation found former Vice-Chancellor Morshed Ahmed Chowdhury and Acting Registrar Md. Naimul Haque Chowdhury had misused power.

The ACC said the officials made adhoc appointments between 2019 and 2023 without UGC approval, repeatedly extending six-month temporary contracts beyond the allowed period, in violation of the Sylhet Medical University Act. Salaries for unauthorized positions were paid from the Health Ministry’s development budget.

Several appointees lacked required age, educational qualifications, or relevant experience. In some cases, employees were promoted illegally despite deficiencies in eligibility, and appointments were made without proper degree requirements.

Currently, the university has 239 employees, of which 112 posts are UGC-approved. The remaining 127 hold non-approved positions, with salaries unlawfully paid from ministry funds, reports UNB.