Thirty-eight out of 51 private universities, which failed to comply with legal obligations of establishing their own campus by September 30, are likely to be disqualified for fresh student enrolment in next semester, officials said. “We may not allow those universities fresh student intake from next semester for their failure in complying with the rules within the stipulated timeframe,” Atful Hye Shibly, a member of the University Grants Commission dealing with the private universities, told daily sun Sunday. Earlier, the university regulatory body had fixed September 30 as deadline for the private universities to have their own campus on certain land as per the Private Universities Act passed by the current Awami League-led coalition government in 2010. The law was updated following allegations that the private universities were running business with no proper infrastructure, laboratories or amenities for students and teachers. Many of them are still called “caged campus”. Asked for comment about the legal measures for non-compliance of universities, the UGC chairman, AK Azad Chowdhury, also a former vice chancellor of Dhaka University, said that he would figure out actions against them in consultation with Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid. “Those who would comply with the law will be rewarded, and those who would fail will be punished,” he said adding that the decision will come from the government, which does not want to shut any university. Those who paid no heed to the UGC deadline have to face the punishment as per the law, but those who made a little progress may be given reasonable time to fulfil the requirements, he said. “They must go by the rules and norms,” he added. As per the rule, the private universities have to establish their own campuses on at least one acre of land within five years of getting the provisional certificate of initiation. Only 11 of the universities have fulfilled their requirements while the rest are lagging behind. North South University, University of Science and Technology Chittagong, International Islami University Chittagong, Ahsanullah Science and Technology University, International University of Business and Agriculture and Technology, BGC Trust University Bangladesh, Bangladesh University, University of Business and Technology, Independent University Bangladesh, Stamford University, Premier University and City University have established their own campuses within the deadline. The City University furnished the criteria on September 29, only a day before the deadline. Azad Chowdhury said the UGC wants to remove the anxiety of the students and guardians by giving a decision shortly. Thirty-eight private universities, which had commenced academic activities between five and eighteen years ago, have failed to go by the UGC direction, according to a report prepared by the commission. According to the report, the non-compliant universities are Darul Ihsan University, Prime University, World University of Bangladesh, Victoria University, Presidency University, Prime Asia University, Royal University of Dhaka, and Bangladesh Islami University, Sylhet International University, Atish Dipankar University, The Millennium University, Dhaka International University, Daffodil International University, Northern University, State University Bangladesh, Manarat International University, The Peoples University of Bangladesh, Uttara University, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, Green University of Bangladesh, Metropolitan University, IBAIS University, University of Information Technology and Science, Leading University, University of Development Alternative, Bangladesh University, Southern University of Bangladesh, University of South Asia, United International University, Shanto-Moriyam University of Creative Technology, Asian University of Bangladesh, American International University Bangladesh, Eastern University, The University of Asia Pacific, South East University, Gano University, Brac University and East West University. Two other universities — Asa University and East Delta University — will complete their five years on October 22, 2011. Education minister Nurul Islam Nahid told daily sun that the private universities, which do not have their own campuses, will be allowed only to enroll students for the running semester. “If they try to go for enrollment in the next semester, they will have to seek permission from us,” the minister said. Click This Link