Rampant corruption at IUT tarnishes image of Bangladesh abroad

Students demand resignation of VC Rafiqul

Special Correspondent: The main mission of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) has not been achieved due to the mismanagement, irregularities, and corruption conducted by the top officials of the organization. Fortunately, Bangladesh got the opportunity to establish the OIC-funded international university, aiming to explore science education and innovation in scientific opportunities among the Islamic countries, including Bangladesh.
However, the OIC top brass and high officials are annoyed due to the rampant corruption conducted by Bangladeshi officials, including the incumbent Vice Chancellor (VC) and some of his colleagues. He has tarnished the image of the country among the member states of the OIC.
It is learned from different sources that the present VC, Prof. Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, is involved in financial and moral corruption, which he managed with the support of the recently ousted Hasina government’s foreign minister, Hasan Mahmud, and ex-Cabinet Secretary Kabir Bin Anwar.
Rafiqul Islam was appointed VC for a period of four years, which will end on September 20 this year, but he has already renewed his appointment for another 4-year tenure one and a half months ago, with a strong recommendation from former minister Hasan Mahmud, who is now in police custody.
A source of foreign ministry told Daily Industry that Hasan Mahmud had taken a bribe for the recommendation. “Rafiqul Islam gave Tk 20 lakh to Hasan Mahmud for the recommendation,” the source added.
Prof. Rafiqul Islam, being a teacher at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), has been serving elsewhere for a long period, both at home and abroad, ignoring ethical rules. He is still living in a BUET teacher’s quarter with his family.
BUET sources told Daily Industrythat Prof. Rafiqul Islam’s house rent has recently doubled from Tk 15,000 to Tk 30,000. He was once advised to vacate the quarter as he has been serving another organization for a long time, but former Cabinet Secretary Kabir Bin Anwar persuaded BUET management not to cancel his quarter. It is learned that Kabir Bin Anwar is a close relative of Rafiqul Islam. His father-in-law and even his wife are also involved with Awami League politics.
It is worth mentioning that the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) is an educational and research institution in Bangladesh run and funded by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The main objective of IUT is to contribute to developing the human resources of the member states of the OIC, particularly in the fields of engineering, technology, and technical education. IUT receives direct endowment from OIC member countries for the support of its students in the form of free tuition, boarding, lodging, and medicare. The aesthetic campus was designed by Turkish architect Pamir Mehmet, an MIT graduate.
All of the fund transactions of IUT are conducted through American currency-dollar, including the tuition fees, salary of faculty and staff, due to being an international organization. A total of about 500 officials are serving at IUT. The VC is earning a huge amount of money from the foreign currency transaction as the payments are made in local currency though they come in US dollars.
A source from IUT told Daily Industrythat the transaction gap is helping the VC gain more than Tk 200,000 per month, which he is grabbing alone with the help of the accounts department of IUT.
VC Grabbed Huge Money for Recruitment
It is learned from different letters written by some sufferers that Vice Chancellor Rafiqul Islam has extracted a huge amount of money for recruitment. An audio recording from the victim is in our hands, where the VC is asking for US$ 50,000 for a second-class job at IUT. The victim stated that he stood first in the job test, but the VC did not give him the job. The victim has refused to quote his name due to security reasons.
$80,000 Misused in the Name of Research
IUT is basically an educational and research institution. The main objective of the University is to help generally in human resources development in member states of the OIC, particularly in different fields of engineering, technology, and technical education. It was awarded $80,000 from COMSEC Turkey for a research program, but the fund was misused and grabbed by Prof. Shahadat Hossain Khan, a faculty member and head of a department. Ex-Pro VC Omar Jhah investigated the irregularities and found out the truth of the misuse of the fund, but he failed to submit the report to the VC due to life risks as he was a citizen of Chad. However, he submitted the report to the OIC in Jeddah.
Prof. Shahadat Hossain Khan denied grabbing the fund but admitted that he distributed the fund among the researchers. The documents prove that the $80,000 was fully deposited in the personal bank account of Shahadat Hossain.
17 Fake Certificate Holders Not Dismissed
Certificates of 17 officials of IUT have been identified as fake, but VC Rafiqul Islam has neither terminated them nor given any punishment. There are proven documents that Rafiqul Islam has taken $10,000 per person as a bribe from the fake certificate holders and given them amnesty.
VC Took Bribe from Food of Students
IUT is an international university, and 100 percent of its students mandatorily accommodate in the halls and take food there. Some evidence has been found that VC Rafiqul Islam grabbed a huge amount of money from the hostels of students. A document shows that the vegetable bill of a hostel for six months was Tk one crore, which is unbelievable to the students and conscious guardians. This has been facilitated by Hasanul Kabir, the provost of the hall. Hasanul Kabir, after finishing his 4-year assignment as provost, received a fresh assignment for another 4 years as a gift for satisfying the VC, which is unethical and a crime, according to the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh.
Unethical Facilities to Key Persons
VC Rafiqul Islam has given undue facilities to some key persons, including luxury furniture, home appliances, and allowances, to keep them in favor of him. However, the general staff and other officials are very unhappy with the ambiguous activities of the VC.
Grabbing Money in Appointing Security Personnel
There was 18 Ansar members deployed for security on the IUT campus, but Rafiqul Islam has appointed a private security firm named Euro Vigil to supply security guards. According to the agreement, the monthly remuneration of the private security company is Tk 13,500 per month per person, but the official remuneration of the security guard is Tk 18,000. Here, the VC has been gaining Tk 4,500 from every guard.
Foreign Students Not Secured
Foreign students are very unhappy with the accommodation, food, and security issues. They have even reacted to the standard of the faculty and their manner and method of delivering lectures. Recently, two students were expelled for life for protesting the illegal issues of VC Rafiqul Islam. The students are Abubakkar Sillah (Sierra Leone) and Mirza Aqeel Ur Rehman of Pakistan.
The Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka has repeatedly requested not to expel their student Mirza Aqeel Ur Rahman from IUT, but Rafiqul has disregarded the request, showing a lack of diplomatic norms. Pakistan High Commissioner Maroof Ahmed said that the IUT VC is a cruel father. He has violated UN conventions and international human rights norms, he added.
Cook Assistant Now HR Officer
The VC of IUT, Rafiqul Islam, has appointed a female staff member who was engaged in the kitchen of the student hostel as an HR officer. It is an open secret that the lady officer has an extramarital affair with the VC. The HR office is located far from Rafiqul, but he allocated a room for the lady just after his room, so she can easily come to the VC’s room. Many officers of IUT expressed their concern over the issue while visiting the campus. Both of them come to the office early in the morning and spend time together, they added.
Taking Tk 5 Cr Bribe from AB Bank
All of the funds, including salaries, are handled by AB Bank’s Board Bazar Branch. Due to being a prime depositor of the bank, AB Bank offered a directorship to the IUT VC, but Rafiqul Islam did not accept it. Instead, he took Tk 5 crore as a lump sum donation from AB Bank. Head office sources of AB Bank admitted the fact.
Tk 1200 Cr Loan for New Building Construction
Rafiqul Islam has recently borrowed Tk 1200 crore for constructing a new building for IUT from the Islamic Development Bank. However, many concerns have been raised that it will be a waste of money and a burden of debt, aimed at extracting illegal gratification. They said that IUT could instead construct a high-rise building on the existing buildings, which would save both land and money. It is worth mentioning that Bangladesh faces a scarcity of land against its huge population.
Students Demand Resignation of VC
The students, teachers, and staff of IUT, as well as the leaders of the ongoing student movement, have demanded the immediate resignation of VC Rafiqul Islam. Sarjis Alam, coordinator of the student movement, told Daily Industry, “If Rafiqul Islam does not step down like VCs of all other public universities, the general students will seize his office and home. We’ll go to the ACC to start a probe against the huge ill-gotten resources and wealth of Rafiqul Islam,” he added.
Huge Wealth
The investigation by Daily Industryand an intelligence agency found that IUT VC Rafiqul Islam amassed huge wealth that is not consistent with his income. He is constructing a 7-story building in Bashundhara on 5 katha of land. He purchased a luxury flat in Uttara from Rajuk, providing false information about his land in Bashundhara. It is worth mentioning that any person or his family is not entitled to apply for a Rajuk plot or flat if they own land or a flat in Dhaka city. However, Rafiqul ignored this rule and bought the flat in Uttara.
He has a 3-story building in his hometown of Sirajganj, where his sister resides. He owns acres of land in Gazipur in his wife’s name. He has also finalized a deal to buy land in Tangail, it is learned.
Rafiqul Islam to be Removed from IUT
The foreign affairs advisor of the interim government, Md. Touhid Hossain, said that he has heard about the irregularities at IUT and its incumbent VC, Prof. Rafiqul Islam. “Rafiqul has tarnished the image of the country, so we’ll take stern action against him,” he added.
OIC Formed Inquiry Team
Prof. Dr. Abdullah Bahit Saleah, Assistant Director General of the OIC has informed media over phone that an inquiry team has already been formed to probe the allegations raised against IUT VC Prof. Rafique. He will be removed, if the probe team get any fact, he added.
Reply from Rafiqul Islam
In a written reply, Rafiqul Islam stated that he has a building under construction in Bashundhara but does not own any other land in his name. He bought an apartment in Uttara from Rajuk. He also regrated all other allegations against him.