Premier University will run by skilled people, no room for 'mafia influence': CCC Mayor

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain has pledged to ensure skilled management for Premier University, emphasising that the institution will not fall into the hands of influential people, which he termed as a "mafia group."

"We will run Premier University with skilled individuals. No mafia group will be allowed to take control," he told journalists at the temporary Nagar Bhaban of CCC in the city's Tigerpass today (10 December).

"We want to entrust responsibilities to experienced teachers, such as former vice-chancellors of Chattogram University," the mayor added.

He said the institution, funded by the city corporation, had suffered from mismanagement.

He explained, "Under the 1992 law, a fund of Tk5 crore was required to establish a university. In 2003, the CCC contributed Tk47 crore and managed the university for the past 16 years.

"However, certain politicians prioritised their personal interests and forcibly turned it into a family-run institution. I won't name anyone; everyone knows who they are," the mayor said.

Shahadat assured that stringent measures would be implemented to prevent future mayors from turning Premier University into a personal asset. "If managed according to regulations, this institution will see success."

When asked about action against those who previously occupied the university, the mayor said, "Once directives are received from the Ministry of Education, action will be taken against those who were in charge for the past six to seven years."

The crisis centring the university escalated after the university's Vice Chancellor Prof Anupam Sen, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Kazi Shamim Sultana, Treasurer Prof Toufiq Syed, Proctor Ahmed Rajib Chowdhury and Student Welfare and Human Resource Director Khurshidur Rahman resigned on 6 December following student protests.

Earlier on 3 September, The Business Standard published a story titled "How Ctg City Corp lost control of Premier University to Mohiuddin family", detailing how the family of former Ctg mayor the late ABM Mohiuddin has taken control of the university.

The report highlighted that for 13 years, two city mayors, including Mohiuddin, served as chairmen of the university's Board of Trustees. However, in 2016, Mohiuddin, despite no longer being mayor, used his political influence to control the university with his family. Despite court rulings, his family continued to operate the university as a personal asset.