BSMMU syndicate forms committee to examine past financial management

The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) syndicate has formed a committee to look into the financial matters of the past six years when Prof Pran Gopal Datta was the vice-chancellor.

New Vice-Chancellor Prof Kamrul Hassan Khan confirmed the move to bdnews24.com.
 
However, he added “it does not mean that we are investigating corruption”.
 
“We’ll know whether there was any corruption only after the investigation,” he said.
 
“We formed the committee as many of our syndicate members wanted to know about the past financial matters –earnings, spending, and I as a new VC want a coordinated way of financial management”.
 
He particularly pointed out that different departments of the university had been running at least 87 projects, but the central authority did not have their accounts.
 
“I want to streamline the whole issue,” he said. “The committee will see whether proper rules were followed in managing financial matters”.
 
A professor who was present at the syndicate meeting on Saturday told bdnews24.com that it became a “tradition” for departments or teachers in the university to run projects with just taking permission from the authority.
 
“But they do not give any details of their financial transactions including income and expenditure accounts to the central authority. Authority gives them permission since they are bringing those projects for university’s development and university cannot help them financially.
 
“But now questions have been raised in some cases. The committee will look into those and advise how to coordinate the whole financial management of the university,” the professor said on condition of anonymity.
 
President of Bangladesh Medical Association Prof Mahmud Hassan, Independent MP Rustam Ali Farazi, and neurosurgeon Prof Kanak Kanti Barua are the members of the committee.
 
They have not been given any time-frame, but have been asked to update the next syndicate meeting about the committee’s activities.
 
BSMMU syndicate meets sometimes once a month, and sometimes twice a month.
 
Prof Khan, a pro-Awami League doctor, has been appointed in March this year as VC after the second successive tenure of his predecessor Prof Datta ended.
 
Well-known ENT doctor, Prof Datta is also a private physician of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
 
He is currently outside Bangladesh, so his comment could not be taken about the committee that that will look into the financial dealings during his terms.