Former Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Jessore University of Science and Technology (JUST) Professor Dr. Abdus Sattar has been sent to jail in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on charges of illegally embezzling funds.
Senior District and Sessions Judge Sheikh Nazmul Alam issued the order on Monday. ACC Public Prosecutor (PP) Sirajul Islam confirmed the matter.
Earlier today, Professor Abdus Sattar appeared on the scheduled date of the case and applied for bail. The judge did not grant bail and ordered him to be sent to jail.
The other two accused in the same case, JUST Deputy Director (Planning and Development) Abdur Rouf and former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Islamic University (IB) Dr. Kamal Uddin, are out on bail.
According to the case source, the then Deputy Director of ACC Jessore, Al-Amin, filed a case against them on August 21, 2023, on charges of illegal recruitment and embezzlement of Tk 61,31,732 from the government. After investigating the case, the ACC recently filed a charge sheet in court accusing the mentioned people.
It is mentioned in the case that the accused Abdur Rouf applied for the post of Assistant Director (Planning and Development) as per the 2009 recruitment notification. The three-member selection board formed for the recruitment was chaired by Vice-Chancellor Dr. Abdus Sattar.
Another member of the selection board was the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of IB Dr. Kamal Uddin. An oral examination was held on August 22 of the same year. At that time, three more candidates were taken for oral examination. But none of them passed.
Despite the fact that Abdur Rouf had no prior experience as a planning and development officer as per the terms of the notification, the selection board illegally tried to appoint him as Assistant Director first. Later, considering the lack of experience, he was recommended for appointment as Section Officer (Grade-1, Planning and Development).
Former VC Dr. Professor Abdus Sattar, as the President of the Board of Regents, took the final decision to appoint him as Section Officer without an open notice.
Abdur Rouf was illegally appointed as Section Officer and was given various benefits including selection grade while working. He was appointed as Assistant Director (Planning and Development) in 2014 and as Deputy Director (Planning and Development) in 2021 with the benefits of a departmental candidate and is currently working at the university.
The case states that due to illegal appointment, he embezzled a total of 61 lakh 31 thousand 732 taka in salary and allowances from October 2009 to June 2022.
