Taking a seating allowance for participating in university meetings during office hours is unethical, said the University Grants Commission (UGC) members.
The tendency to withdraw money in the name of holding meetings is increasing, it added.
“It is not at all appropriate to take a seating allowance during office hours. Other expenses, including seating allowance for these meetings during office hours, are gradually increasing at universities,” said the UGC Chairman Professor Dr Kazi Shahidullah.
He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on raising awareness on anti-corruption, organised by the UGC Sunday.
The UGC chairman said, “Taking seating allowance is unethical and members of the board of trustees of various private universities are accepting seating allowance at an illegal rate, which is not desirable at all.”
UGC member Prof Dil Afroza Begum said that the financial and administrative irregularities of various people, including the vice chancellors have taken a serious turn.
She called for quick implementation of the commission's probe into allegations of corruption.
“Not a single recommendation of 13 investigation reports on irregularities and corruption at universities has been implemented in the last few years,” she said.
“If it continues, corruption at higher educational institutions will continue to increase.”
In the meeting, Professor Abu Taher said corruption at universities could be greatly reduced if those involved in financial and administrative irregularities are brought under the law.
