Below-par poised to teach at Dhaka University

Two have cleared the test for recruitment of teachers in Dhaka University’s Urdu department though they do not have the minimum pre-requisites for the position.

The teacher recruitment committee said the minimum academic qualifications had been relaxed for them for their ‘good’ results in graduate and post-graduate studies.

DU Vice Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, however, said Syndicate had the scope to stop anyone’s appointment if one lacked the required qualifications.

According to the university administration authorities,, the recruitment committee had primarily selected three against two vacant posts.

The university advertised the positions in national newspapers on June 12 of a full-time lecturer and an assistant professor in Urdu department.

The circular said the aspirants should have first division marks or GPA 4.25 in Secondary School Certificate and High Secondary Certificate exams, and first class or CGPA 3.25 in Bachelor’s and post-graduation.

It, however, mentioned that academic qualifications could be relaxed for aspirants with ‘special merit’.

Documents available from the university administration show 17 people vied for the post of lecturer.

Of the applicants, 11 were called for written test held on Aug 6 though only five of them have minimum academic qualifications.

The committee primarily selected three persons in the Nov 9 viva voce and two of them lacked the minimum GPA 4.24 in SSC exams.

They are Sayeba Jerin and Md Masum Sheikh.

Jerin secured GPA 3.63 and Masum 4.

Four among those who did not clear viva voce hold first class in all four exams. Three of them are even PhD researchers.

According to the administration, a lecturer has been elevated to the post of assistant professor, meaning now two posts of lecturer are vacant.

However, the five-member viva board recommended appointment of all the three aspirants it selected.

University Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) Nasrim Ahmad headed the board. Other members were Arts Faculty Dean Md Akhtaruzzaman, Islamic Studies Department’s Muhammad Abdul Ma’bud, Arabic Department’s RM Ali Haider and Urdu Department’s former chairman Muhammad Golam Rabbani.

The four who were disqualified in the viva voce alleged that candidates lacking required qualifications had been selected considering their political affiliations and link to the department chairman.

The department chairman, Md Israfil, however, told bdnews24.com: “This recruitment hasn’t taken place during my tenure. That’s why I can’t say anything about it. The former chairman can say.”

Ex-chairman Rabbani, who was a viva board member, said: “I asked the committee to appoint those who have (required) qualifications. But the committee has thought these three are qualified.”