DHAKA: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court fined Tk10 lakh each to the Metropolitan University, Sylhet and International Islamic University, Chittagong (IIUC) for violating direction of University Grants Commission (UGC) over admission of students.

Both the universities were fined as they enrolled more than 50 students in their respective law departments, without following the rules of Bangladesh Bar Council and the UGC.

The universities have been asked to pay the fine to Bangladesh Bar Council.

Students will be allowed to appear for the Bangladesh Bar Council enrollment test, if the universities pay the fine, the apex court added.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after disposing a review petition filed by Bangladesh Bar Council.

Court sources said the University Grants Commission on April 23, 2014 issued a directive saying that private universities cannot admit more than 50 students to the law department per semester.

The bar council on October 1 last year issued a notification saying that it will not provide registration cards to more than 50 candidates from private universities per semester.

Students of different universities including Metropolitan University, Sylhet and International Islamic University, Chittagong (IIUC) filed separate writ petitions with the High Court challenging the UGC and Bar Council's decision.

The court in an interim order asked the Bar Council to allow them to sit for the enrollment exams.

Bangladesh Bar Council later filed an appeal against the High Court order.

The SC, in its order, fined the varsities authorities today (Feb 23).

Earlier on February 19 and 20, the apex court also fined City University and Southeast University Tk 10 lakh respectively over the same issue.

BDST: 1212 HRS, FEB 23, 2020
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