Universities asked to appoint fulltime project directors

University Grants Commission Chairman Professor Kazi Shahidullah has called upon the vice-chancellors of public universities to appoint fulltime project directors to supervise the development activities. 

"Works on many development projects are hampered as currently temporary project directors supervise those. We want speedy progress of the development activities.  It is possible only if there are permanent directors," he said.

Kazi Shahidullah said this at a programme arranged on Tuesday to evaluate the progress of the ongoing projects at public universities.

UGC Member Professor Dr Md Alamgir presided over the programme organised by Planning and Development Division of the UGC. 

Vice-Chancellor of Rangamati Science and Technology University Professor Promanendu Bikash Chakma, Vice-Chancellor of Islamic Arabic University Professor Ahsan Ullah, and Director of Planning and Development Division of UGC Dr Ferdous Jaman, among others, spoke at the programme.

Professor Kazi Shahidullah said some universities are spending project money to pay salaries of the teachers and employees and to buy furniture, which is not acceptable. 

Addressing the university officials at the programme, he said, "Please don't use project money in another sectors and just follow the rules and regulations of the project implementation."

The UGC chairman also said, "It is very important to complete development work in time maintaining quality. Besides, expenditure of any project should not be increased. But unfortunately, some universities are not looking into the matter." 

The UGC has approved 48 projects worth Tk3,170 crore in the 2019-20 fiscal year.

Feasibility study is a must if the cost of any project is above Tk25 crore and a fulltime project director is also a must if the cost is above Tk50 crore.