A F M Asad Ullah: The Ministry of Education has directed the suspension of all admission and academic activities at North East University, Sylhet, which operates its classes in rented premises. The directive was issued due to the university’s failure to construct a permanent campus on its own land despite the expiration of its provisional approval period. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has been instructed to implement this measure.
This information was revealed in a recent letter signed by A S M Kasem, Senior Assistant Secretary (Private University-1) of the Ministry of Education.
The letter states: “In accordance with Sections 7(2) and 11(2) of the Private University Act, 2010, 16 private universities have failed to relocate their academic activities to permanent campuses despite the expiration of their provisional approval periods. Consequently, as per Section 12(1) of the Private University Act, 2010, the concerned universities are instructed to take necessary action, and the department is to be informed accordingly.”
Section 12(1) of the Private University Act, 2010, states:
“If any private university fails to apply for a certificate of approval within the validity period of its provisional approval or, as the case may be, the renewed provisional approval, or fails to fulfill any condition under Section 9 for obtaining such a certificate, all admission and education-related activities of the concerned private university shall cease immediately upon the expiration of the provisional approval or, as the case may be, the renewed provisional approval.”
Sources from the Ministry of Education indicate that the university had been operating under provisional approval. However, despite surpassing seven years since its establishment, the university failed to meet the conditions for obtaining full accreditation by relocating to a permanent campus with permanent infrastructure on its own land. Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Education’s Secondary and Higher Education Division has directed the UGC to take action against 16 such universities.
Regarding the ministry’s letter, UGC Chairman Professor S M A Faiz said, “Universities that have
