Rajshahi, Sept 03 (V7N) — Questions surrounding the administrative tenure of recently retired acting Registrar of Rajshahi University, Professor Dr Iftikharul Alam Masud, have brought renewed attention to his approach to institutional rules and procedures.
Those familiar with the university administration said Masud placed greater emphasis on following established rules and procedures than on making decisions quickly. As a result, he faced allegations of delays in some administrative matters, while his supporters maintained that the delays were linked to efforts to ensure transparency and compliance with university regulations.
During his tenure as acting registrar, Masud reportedly placed emphasis on following applicable rules in matters involving recruitment, postings, various applications, administrative approvals and disposal of official files.
According to people familiar with the administration, he sought to make decisions after reviewing relevant documents and following prescribed procedures rather than responding to demands from individuals or groups.
Allegations of opposition over refusal to provide improper benefits
Masud himself has said that some of those making allegations against him were dissatisfied because they had not received benefits outside the rules.
He challenged his critics to provide evidence to support their allegations.
“Ask those making these allegations to provide evidence. I have seen that some of the people spreading these false claims are those whom I did not provide with any improper benefits and who were unable to obtain such benefits,” he said.
Masud said he had consistently sought to prioritise university rules and regulations over personal relationships, pressure or a culture of providing preferential treatment while performing administrative responsibilities.
Following procedures rather than deliberately delaying files
One of the main criticisms raised against Masud concerns alleged delays in dealing with files and administrative matters.
People supporting his position, however, said the disposal of an administrative file at a university does not always depend on a single decision-maker. In many cases, opinions from relevant offices, verification of documents, assessment of regulatory requirements and formal approvals are necessary.
Therefore, they argued, a file not being processed immediately should not automatically be interpreted as deliberate obstruction.
According to this view, Masud’s approach was to prioritise making decisions correctly and in accordance with regulations rather than simply making them quickly. Although this could take additional time in some cases, it was intended to reduce the risk of decisions being made outside established procedures.
Questions over evidence behind serious allegations
Various allegations and criticisms concerning Masud have also circulated on social media. Many of the claims have focused on his administrative conduct, the pace of decision-making and his personal behaviour.
However, no specific and verifiable evidence of serious allegations such as corruption, financial misconduct, recruitment-related irregularities or personally receiving financial benefits has been publicly established, according to the information available for this report.
The absence of publicly available evidence does not, by itself, conclusively prove that every allegation is false. At the same time, presenting serious allegations as established facts without supporting evidence would not be consistent with responsible journalism.
This is also why Masud has called on his accusers to provide evidence to substantiate their claims.
Official procedures cited over access to information
Masud has also faced criticism over allegations that journalists were not provided with information.
However, not all university administrative records can necessarily be disclosed immediately. Recruitment documents, personal information, administrative decisions and other sensitive institutional matters may require verification and approval from the appropriate authorities before disclosure.
People supporting Masud said he sought to follow official
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