UGC Suspends Admission of New Student at Britannia University

The University Grants Commission (UGC) directed the authorities of the Britannia University in Cumilla to keep stopping the admission of any new students in all programs of the private university until further notice, reports media.

UGC sources said the commission sent a letter signed by its Director (Private University division) Omar Faruque to the university authorities on Sunday in this regard.

UGC said that on a recent visit to the university in Cumilla, the commission found Britannia University falling hopelessly short in almost the criteria required by universities. The number of teachers is inadequate, it lacks qualified teachers, there is no research, it has no educational campus, the library is useless, and their entire curriculums are expired.

UGC also said there is no legal authority appointed by the chancellor at the university.

According to sections 18 and 20 of the Private University Act, 2010, syndicate and academic councils are responsible for admission, teaching, taking exams, and publishing results of the private university.

As per sections 17 and 19 of the law, the Vice-Chancellor appointed by the Chancellor following section 31 is the president of the syndicate and academic council. In absence of the VC appointed by the Chancellor all the exams taken and results published by a private university will be legally invalid.

There is no Vice-chancellor at the university appointed by the chancellor since 2017 while no pro-VC and treasurer since the establishment of the university. 

UGC said the syndicate and academic council of the university presided by someone else instead of the VC appointed by the chancellor, has no legal validity.

For this reason, Britannia University authorities have been instructed in writing to suspend the admission of new students to all programs until further notice by the Commission.