CUET Recruitment Scandal: Nepotism Claims and Merit Sidelined

Serious allegations of institutional irregularities and nepotism have emerged at the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), casting a shadow over the university’s faculty recruitment integrity. The controversy centres on the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr Abdul Matin, who is accused of manipulating the hiring process to secure a teaching position for his daughter, allegedly at the expense of candidates with superior academic credentials.

Systematic Deviation from Academic Norms

In Bangladesh’s public university system, recruitment traditionally follows a strict meritocratic convention where the top two graduates of a departmental cohort are given priority for faculty roles. However, campus insiders and students from the Electrical and Telecommunication Engineering (ETE) Department allege these norms were deliberately dismantled to facilitate the appointment of Jerin Tasnim Maimuna, the Vice-Chancellor’s daughter.

Maimuna, a graduate of the 19th batch, reportedly ranked third in her merit list. To ensure her placement, students claim that higher-ranked candidates—specifically a top-performing Hindu student from the 18th batch who secured the first position—were systematically excluded through a series of administrative manoeuvres.

A Timeline of Administrative Interference

The controversy began in late 2024 when a recruitment board was abruptly dissolved. The sequence of events suggests a calculated effort to delay hiring until the Vice-Chancellor’s daughter became eligible for the post.

Table: Comparative Recruitment Timeline and Outcomes

The Alleged Exclusion of Minority Merit

One of the most sensitive aspects of the scandal is the treatment of a high-achieving student from a minority background. The 1st-ranked candidate of the 18th batch, a Hindu student with an exemplary academic record, sat for the board twice. Despite her seniority and superior ranking, she was bypassed in favour of the 19th batch’s third-ranked candidate. Students allege this not only demonstrates nepotism but also raises questions about the protection of minority rights in competitive academic spaces.

Growing Unrest and Institutional Damage

The CUET campus is currently experiencing a wave of discontent. Speaking on condition of anonymity, students have described the situation as a “blatant abuse of power.” Education analysts warn that if these appointments stand, the institutional reputation of CUET—a premier engineering university—could be permanently tarnished.

The student body is currently demanding:

An immediate independent inquiry into the recruitment board’s decisions.

The nullification of appointments found to be influenced by familial ties.

Strict adherence to merit-based quotas to restore public confidence.

As the allegations gain traction, the university administration faces mounting pressure to provide a transparent explanation for the dissolution of the original board and the subsequent sidelining of the 18th batch’s top graduate.