Dhaka: The three-member committee formed by University Grants Commission (UGC) has been empowered to visit colleges, universities and libraries without prior permission of the authorities to monitor whether there is any sign of militancy.

Against the backdrop of two back-to-back terrorist attacks in the country early this month, the UGC has formed the monitoring committee headed by Md Akhter Hossain.

The two others members of the committee are: UGC members Jesmine Parveen and Md Shaheed Siraj.

‘The committee, if necessary, will visit colleges, universities and libraries any time without any prior permission of the authorities,’ said UGC chairman Abdul Mannan at a press briefing in Dhaka on Sunday.

He said the committee would submit a report to the education ministry and law enforcement agencies as well if it senses any militant activities on the campus following the visit.

The UGC chairman said after getting report the ministry and the law enforcement agencies will take necessary action in this regard.

However, the UGC earlier recommended for bringing some amendments to the Private University Act 2010 seeking inclusion of its representatives in the board of trustee of different institutions to oversee its activities.

The commission made the recommendation following the recent terror attacks at a Gulshan cafe, in Dhaka on 1 July and at Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj on 7 July.

In the press conference, the UGC chairman announced that teachers, students and employees of all public, private universities, colleges and madrasas will form an anti-militancy human chain for an hour on their campuses at 11 am tomorrow.

Apart from this, five colleges under National University will form human chain at the same time in front of Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh is the statutory apex body in the field of higher education in Bangladesh.