The University Grants Commission (UGC) has prepared and submitted the draft rules to the education ministry.

A high-level meeting at the ministry attended by UGC representatives and vice chancellors of public universities recently discussed the proposed rules, ministry sources said.

Copies of the draft rules have also been sent to all public universities asking them to send their views and suggestions to the education ministry and the UGC by July 31.

UGC Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam said uniform recruitment and promotion rules have been prepared to maintain a certain standard of education at the public universities.

"We placed the draft uniform rules at a meeting at the education ministry where vice chancellors of almost all the public universities including Dhaka University, Rajshahi University and Chittagong University were present. At the meeting, we decided to send copies of the rules to all public universities. Syndicates of the universities will discuss the rules and they have to give their views and suggestions by the end of next month," he told The Daily Star.

The education ministry will arrange another meeting where top officials of the ministry, UGC representatives and vice chancellors will scrutinise the proposed rules and suggestions of the public universities. The draft rules will be finalised later, he said.

PROPOSED RULES
According to the draft rules, a candidate having first class or first division at all levels including honours and master's can only apply for the post of lecturer but this rule might be relaxed if no such candidate is available.

A lecturer will become assistant professor after having two years' experience and at least one research publication. An assistant professor will be associate professor with eight years' experience including five years as assistant professor, and five research publications with three of those as assistant professor.

An associate professor will become a professor with 18 years' experience including seven years as associate professor, and 15 research publications with seven of those as associate professor.

But an associate professor who holds PhD degree can be a professor after having 12 years' experience including six years as associate professor and at least 15 research publications.

A candidate for the post of registrar must have at least second class or second division at all levels and 15 years' experience including five years as deputy registrar. Besides, candidates for important posts like controller of examinations, chief librarian, chief public relations officer and chief medical officer must have at least second class or second division at all levels and 15 years' experience.

Mohammed Mufakker, UGC secretary, said all public universities should be brought under certain standard rules so that transparency is maintained in recruitment and promotion of teachers and staff in the interest of quality higher education and proper functioning of the universities.

He said some of the public universities like Dhaka University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology already have standard rules for recruitment and promotion of teachers. The proposed uniform rules will be the basis of efforts for quality education while some universities may also go for further standard rules, he added.