DHAKA: More than 150 students got admission into the reputed Viqarunnisa Noon School and College with the recommendation made by Rashed Khan Menon MP, the lawmaker said at a press conference arranged Monday to dispel doubts.     

“I just recommended for 150 students,” said Menon, who is chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on education sector and also of Viqarunnisa School and College governing.

The press conference was held at his Workers Party office under the banner of Viqarunnisa School and College governing body.

Although the left party chief admitted to a large number recommendation deals, but strongly denied getting any underhand dealings on his part.

He said, “Education Department is inquiring into the matter. But, I have no problem if separate probe body investigates this. It will take time to regain my political goodwill in this regard.”

To a question he said, “I could not avoid the requests being made by Ministers, editors, journalists and well-wishers of my political life.”

He said the development of the institution might be shattered if good relations are not maintained with the well-wishers of the school. “So, we took the decision to keep the requests of those persons in a meeting of the governing body.”

At the press meet, Menon declined to name those who requested his recommendations for the highly competitive admission.

He said about the news published in various newspapers on this issue, “Acting principal of the school Rokeya Akhtar Begum supplied false and baseless information to press to insult the governing body.”

“She got admitted a huge number of students without the concurrence of the governing body. When she was asked to submit lists of those students in a governing-body meeting, she became scared and told journalists that we have recommended for more than 500 students to be admitted illegally,” the lawmaker said to further explain the admission scandal.

“I only recommended for 150, then what happened with others?” comrade Menon asked.

He further questioned, “If the requests came from the Premier’s office, what could I do?”

Menon said, “The acting principal was relieved of her duty on a High Court order. Now she will perform only her duty as assistant professor in the collage.”

Today new principal Hosney Ara Begum joined the institution, he told the reporters about the change.

“Students will get admission through lottery from next time, which would result in the closing down of the roaring coaching business. At the same time, the practice of disclosing question papers would also be stopped,” said Menon, who presides over the two most reputed schools of the capital, as also of the country—Viqarunnisa and Ideal.

As he was questioned about his personal assistant Naimul Azam Khan, whom he co-opted as a member of the governing body, Menon said, “He was recruited by the Education Department and his wife was recruited as a teacher of the institution on her own merit.”

Though the press meet was called fronting the banner of the governing body, but only Dilip Roy, a lone member out of total 13, was present.

Menon observed about the issue: “Others could not come as the new principal joined today, and some have other sorts of business, too.”  

BDST: 02: 40 Hrs, June 14, 2010.
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