Dhaka, Jun 14 (bdnews24.com)—Chairman of the governing body of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College Rashed Khan Menon has tacitly admitted irregularities and corruption in admission and says those should be investigated.
Reports of corruption and irregularities in the admission process against Menon were recently carried in the news media.
Menon, an MP and the chief of the Workers' Party, an ally of the ruling Awami League, took questions from reporters at a press briefing at Martyr Asad Auditorium in the capital's Topkhana Road on Monday.
"I'm a public representative. In my long political career, I have lots of well-wishers in the minister, MP and journalist levels. So I could not ignore requests of many.
"But (in his case) the number of students admitted could be 100 to 150," Menon told the briefing.
He, however, refuted the institution's acting principal's allegation that about 500-600 students were admitted at request.
"This is not true. If 100-150 were admitted at my request, on whose wishes the other 250-300 were admitted?"
When asked whether a probe should be launched on the issue, Menon said, "A committee can be formed."
He also trashed media reports on his arbitrary change of the acting principal and appointment of a regular principal to the college, one of the most successful educational institutions in the country.
He termed those reports 'baseless', 'one-sided' and 'intentional'.
Menon refused to resign his post if an inquiry opened.
"There is no need to resign. Several such investigation committees were formed against many people, but they did not quit their posts," Menon reasoned.
Dilip Roy, a member of the governing body, was also present at the news conference.
On Jun 12, Hosne Ara Begum, elected among 20 candidates, was made the new principal in place of acting principal Shaila Ahmed following a governing body decision.
Shaila Ahmed had taken office on Mar 25.
Former acting principal Rokeya Akhter Begum on Mar 27 filed a writ petition with the High Court against Shaila's appointment.
Following the petition, the High Court stayed the recruitment process. The petition was quashed on June 8.
Hosne Ara took office on Monday.
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