VCs these days
Tarik Zaman, University of Sydney, Australia
I refer to the letter from Professor M. Zahidul Haque (Dec 2) of Shere-Bangla Agricultural University Dhaka. My teacher, Professor Haque, has appealed to the government and to the civil society to ensure due status/dignity of the Vice Chancellors (VC) of the universities. But he did not mention why the position of VC has been degraded, particularly since the 80s. May I request my teacher, with due respect, to read the article written by another teacher, Dr. Zafar Iqbal of Sylhet University, in the December 2 issue of the Bangla daily Prothom Alo. I think the article is very relevant to the subject matter. However, I would like to add further.The persons who made VC before and soon after the independence, most of them were truly well known at national and international levels for proven qualities and achievements in their own fields of studies and contributions to the society. They were really imaginative and innovative. The chancellor (President/PM) had to make several requests to take up the positions. ASM Sayem Bose, Professor Matin Chowdhury, Fazlul Halim Chowdhury, MA Raquib, Osman Gani, Zillur Rahman Siddiqui -- are only few to mention. They really enlightened the universities as well as the society. Conversely, look back at the 80s and 90s! It is hard to single out a person made VC due to his contribution to original research or greater contribution to his own area of study or to the society. Rather we see all palm greasers knocking at the doors of the influential student and political leaders. The chancellor is embarrassed and has to bargain with the palm greasers. Now the appointment letter is not delivered to the appointed person proudly and openly, rather it is collected quietly at night with few bodyguards at arms. We know a VC only after he becomes a VC. The name of the VC is so unfamiliar to the society that someone has to research why that person is named as VC. May I request my teacher to look at his own backyard: how the incumbent VC of your university was appointed? The teacher community itself has to ponder why the position of a VC as well as of the teachers is increasingly less valued.
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