Southern University declares suspended VC Prof Mozammel 'unwelcome' on campus

All teachers, administrative officers, and employees of Southern University Bangladesh have declared their temporarily suspended Vice-Chancellor Professor Engineer Md. Mozammel Haque "Unwelcome" on campus.

This decision comes amid 14 serious allegations accusing him of tarnishing the university's reputation, disrupting the academic environment, and violating university regulations.

The decision was endorsed by the university's Board of Trustees, with members, including the chairman, supporting the collective stance of the university staff.

A formal complaint letter, signed by all teachers and employees, outlined the specific accusations against Prof Mozammel Haque and expressed a vote of no confidence in his leadership, according to a press release from the university authority.

Present during the declaration were Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr. Sharif Ashrafuzzaman, university's founding Professor Sarwar Jahan, and other key academic leaders, including Professor Dr. Israt Jahan, dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, and Professor Chowdhury Mohammad Ali, dean of the Faculty of Arts, Sociology, and Law.

Heads of various departments, including Pharmacy, CSE, Law, and Islamic Studies, were also in attendance, emphasizing the widespread support for the decision.

The allegations against Prof. Haque included misuse of university funds, unethical appointments, failure to comply with the Private Universities Act, 2010, and creating a hostile working environment.

One of the most notable charges is that he allegedly bypassed the Board of Trustees in making key decisions, including unauthorized appointments and salary increases for selected staff members.

There were also complaints about his failure to respond to serious financial and administrative concerns raised by the Board of Trustees.

In their statement, staff members accused Prof. Mozammel Haque of conspiring to damage the university's reputation by spreading false information on social media and engaging in activities that undermined the fair educational environment. His refusal to provide proper documentation or respond to the Board's inquiries for two years further fueled dissatisfaction among the university community.

The letter also highlighted instances of personal misconduct, including allegations that Prof. Mozammel Haque verbally abused staff members and harassed female faculty, leading to significant mental and physical stress among employees. The staff's grievances pointed to widespread discontent with his leadership, leading to this unprecedented collective action.

Under his leadership, staff claims there was a lack of progress in the university's academic and infrastructural development, alongside the closure of essential services like online verification, which impacted students significantly.

They also allege that Prof. Haque took personal advantage of university resources, using vehicles and funds without proper authorization.

The university's Board of Trustees, along with the UGC and Ministry of Education, had previously raised concerns about Prof. Mozammel Haque's qualifications for the vice-chancellor role.

In a letter dated October 2020, the Ministry of Education rejected his appointment due to a lack of qualifications under the Private Universities Act 2010, which further questioned his legitimacy in holding the position.

In their closing statement, the university's faculty and staff declared that Prof. Mozammel Haque would not be permitted back on campus, and any attempt by him to return would be "strictly suppressed." The collective decision marks a firm stance by Southern University Bangladesh to uphold the integrity of its academic environment and restore stability moving forward.

Attempts to reach Prof. Mozammel Haque for comment were unsuccessful, as his phone remained unreachable.