The Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) has been plunged into a crisis of credibility following allegations of systemic nepotism and the marginalisation of minority merit. At the heart of the scandal is the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Abdul Matin, who stands accused of manipulating the university’s recruitment apparatus to secure a faculty position for his daughter, Jerin Tasnim Maimuna.
The controversy has sparked fierce debate over the erosion of academic integrity in Bangladesh’s premier engineering institutions, with students alleging that a top-ranked Hindu candidate was deliberately bypassed to make way for the Vice-Chancellor’s kin.
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Engineered Delays and Dissolved Boards
The allegations center on the Electrical and Telecommunication Engineering (ETE) Department. Traditionally, faculty appointments are reserved for the “cream of the crop”—the first and second rank-holders of a graduating cohort. However, the timeline of events suggests a calculated effort to deviate from these norms.
In November 2024, a recruitment board was convened for two lecturer positions. The top-ranked students of the 18th batch applied and successfully navigated the examination process. Yet, in a move that baffled observers, the board was dissolved without warning before the final results were published. Campus insiders allege this was a “stalling tactic” designed to wait for the graduation of the 19th batch, which included the Vice-Chancellor’s daughter.
The Sidelining of Minority Merit
When a fresh circular was issued in July 2025, the academic landscape had shifted. The 1st-ranked student of the 18th batch—a member of the Hindu minority with a flawless academic record—reapplied. Despite her seniority and superior merit, she was once again excluded.
Instead, the university appointed the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rank-holders of the 19th batch. Crucially, the third spot was occupied by the Vice-Chancellor’s daughter, who had failed to secure the top two positions even within her own batch.
Comparative Merit and Recruitment Data
| Recruitment Cycle | Target Batch | Top Candidate (Merit 1st) | Outcome |
| Circular 1 (2024) | 18th Batch | Hindu Student (1st Rank) | Board Dissolved |
| Circular 2 (2025) | 18th & 19th | Hindu Student (1st Rank, 18th) | Rejected |
| Final Selection | 19th Batch | Jerin Tasnim Maimuna (3rd Rank) | Appointed |
A Crisis of Confidence
The fallout from these appointments has led to widespread anger among the student body, who view the move as a “blatant theft of opportunity.” By hiring three candidates from the junior batch while ignoring the top graduate of the senior batch, the administration is accused of setting a dangerous precedent.
“This is not just about one job,” a student representative stated. “It is about the message that familial ties carry more weight than a gold medal or a first-class degree. It is particularly galling that a minority student of such high calibre was sacrificed for the VC’s family interests.“
Demands for Accountability
Educational analysts warn that such scandals threaten the international standing of CUET. As of now, the student body is calling for:
A judicial review of the recruitment process.
The immediate suspension of the appointments pending an independent audit.
A formal explanation for the abrupt dissolution of the 2024 recruitment board.
The university administration has yet to provide a detailed rebuttal to these specific charges, leaving the campus in a state of growing unrest.