Ex-JUST VC Abdus Sattar sent to jail in corruption case
Earlier in the day, Abdus Sattar surrendered to the court along with two other accused and sought bail in the case
A court today sent former vice chancellor (VC) of the Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST) Prof Dr Abdus Sattar to jail in a corruption case.
District and Sessions Judge Sheikh Nazmul Alam passed the order rejecting the bail petition filed by the former VC, said Sirajul Islam, public prosecutor (PP) of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Jashore.
Earlier in the day, Abdus Sattar surrendered to the court along with two other accused and sought bail in the case.
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The two other accused in the case are Abdur Rouf, deputy director (planning and development) at JUST, and Dr Kamal Uddin, former pro-vice-chancellor of Islamic University.
The court also granted the bail petitions of Abdur Rouf and Dr Kamal Uddin as they earlier obtained bail from the same court.
According to court documents, the ACC filed the case on 21 August 2023, alleging illegal recruitment and the embezzlement of Tk61 lakh in government funds. Following an investigation, the ACC submitted a charge sheet implicating the three individuals.
The allegations stem from a 2009 recruitment process in which Abdur Rouf applied for the post of assistant director (planning and development). The selection board, chaired by then VC Dr Abdus Sattar and including Dr Kamal Uddin, conducted an oral exam where three other candidates were also interviewed. Despite lacking the required experience, Rouf was initially selected for the post of assistant director. Later, acknowledging his ineligibility, the board recommended him for the position of section officer (grade-1, planning and development).
Abdus Sattar, as chair of the board, finalised the appointment without issuing an open notice. Rouf was later promoted to assistant director in 2014 and deputy director in 2021, continuing to serve at the university.
The ACC alleges that the illegal appointment allowed Rouf to unlawfully receive Tk61 lakh in salary and benefits from October 2009 to June 2022.
Abdus Sattar is also among four individuals, including former JUST VC Dr Anwar Hossain, who are facing separate ACC cases related to the unlawful recruitment of university teachers.
