Dhaka: Though there is no alternative to modernising libraries and laboratories for ensuring quality higher education, the country’s private universities have cut their spending on the section in 2013.

According to recently published University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Annual Report 2013, the country’s 68 private universities spent TK 60.71 crore on library-laboratory part in 2013 while the expenses of 60 private universities in 2012 was Tk 80.72 crore.

On its library part, East Delta University spent the highest amount of Tk 7.56 crore, while Brac University 2.11 crore and Independent University, Bangladesh Tk 15.1 crore respectively.

For Laboratory part, North South University spent the highest amount of Tk 10.80 crore while International University of Business Agriculture and Technology, and Daffodil International University cost Tk 3.85 crore and Tk 2.29 crore respectively, according to the report.

But, 19 of the private universities did not spend even a single penny on research activities in 2013, the report says.

The universities are North South University, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, City University, Royal University of Dhaka, Sylhet International University, Central Women’s University, the People’s University of Bangladesh, Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology, Darul Ihsan University, Varendra University, Hamdard University Bangladesh, North East University Bangladesh, Ishakha International University, ZH Sikder University of Science and Technology, North Western University, Khwaja Yunus Ali University, Sonargaon University, Feni University and Britannia University.

The remaining 49 private universities spent Tk 58.31 crore on research works and the expenses of every university for brainstorming work is Tk 1.19 crore on average.

Brac University spent the highest amount of Tk 40.65 crore for research work, while American International University Bangladesh and University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh occupied the second and third positions spending Tk 4 crore and Tk 2.25 crore respectively.

“There’s no alternative to research for improving the standard of higher education. Nineteen universities, out of 68, did not spend any money on the research works in 2013, which the commission (UGC) thinks an obstacle to ensure quality higher education,” the UGC report mentions.

As per the Private University Act 2010, every private university is bound to spend a substantial amount of its annual budget on research work, the report says, adding that the commission hopes that the private universities will allocate and spend money on research works regularly considering the improvement of quality higher education and national development.

UGC chairman Prof AK Azad Chowdhury said as the Commission has no legal authority over financial management of the private universities and it cannot compel the universities to spend or increase funds for research, laboratory and library sections.

Voicing frustration, Prof Chowdhury said, “The UGC is merely an advisory body, not the executive one. Without having any legal authority, we can’t compel the private universities to comply with the rules prescribed under the Private University Act.”

Contacted, Vice Chancellor of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology Prof AMM Safiullah said there is a misinterpretation as his university spent enough on research works, but the expenses were not registered under research fund.

“We’ve our regular publications and we also spent money on undergraduate students to conduct researches. But the operating cost was not showed as the research expenses,” he said.

Prof Safiullah also said now they are registering the expenditures against publications and researches as the research expenses.

Asked about the genuineness of the list of the 19 private universities mentioned in the UGC report, the UGC chairman said had the university spent a substantial amount on research works, the name was not referred to the list.

Meanwhile, the Commission issued notice to the 19 universities seeking explanations about the research expenses, he added.