He made the observation when a delegation of Bangladesh Biswabidyalaya Parishad, an association of public universities, met him at his office at the planning ministry.

Quoting press reports, Saifur told Vice-chancellor (VC) of Rajshahi University Prof Faisul Islam Faruki that the university recently appointed teachers on political considerations; the appointments should have been done on the basis of merit.

Faruki denied the allegation and told Saifur that 300 teachers were appointed to the university during the rule of Awami League government.

But this year the university recruited only 100 teachers whose appointments have been made purely on the basis of merit, he claimed.

VC of Open University Prof Ershadul Bari, however, defended political appointment of teachers. He argued the VCs find it difficult to run the university if members of the senate and academic council do not share the same ideology as theirs.

National University VC Prof Aftab Ahmed observed that the University Ordinance 1973 needs to be amended if politics by teachers at the universities is to be stopped.

The Parishad leaders said the private universities are buying competent, meritorious teachers out of public universities by offering higher salary.

They asked the minister to form a separate pay scale for public university teachers.

Saifur turned down the proposal but said the government will consider raising their allowances.

He, however, assured the VCs of including a teachers' representative in the newly-formed pay commission.