A controversy has erupted at Begum Rokeya University after Yusuf, an assistant professor in the Department of History and Archaeology, was found to have been hired despite not meeting the educational qualifications required for the position.
Yusuf had received a “C” grade in Mathematics in his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and a “D” in English in his Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), rendering him ineligible to apply according to the university’s hiring criteria.
According to the job advertisement published in February 2011, candidates were required to have at least a GPA of 4.0 in either the SSC or HSC examinations, along with a first-class degree in their undergraduate studies (minimum GPA of 3.5).
Despite his GPA of 3.50 in SSC and 3.1 in HSC, Yusuf was appointed and has been teaching for 12 years, raising questions about the hiring committee’s authority and the validity of his appointment.
Professor Golam Rabbani, an associate professor in the same department, filed a formal complaint regarding the matter, prompting an internal investigation by the university’s registrar, Engineer Alamgir Chowdhury, who confirmed that action would be taken after the investigation.
The complaint stated that the university had published the job advertisement without forming a planning committee, which is a clear violation of the law. It further alleged that the selection committee overlooked the qualifications of applicants to facilitate Yusuf’s hiring, despite the fact that multiple qualified candidates were available.
The committee, which included the university’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdul Jalil Mia, allegedly recommended Yusuf’s appointment even though he did not meet the published criteria.
Additionally, the complaint highlighted that, although the job notice specified a single vacancy for the position of assistant professor, the selection board recommended three candidates for permanent positions, which was unprecedented.
The recommendation documents had been typed, but an attempt was made to alter the number of recommended candidates from “one” to “three” by hand, suggesting possible foul play.
Professor Rabbani criticized the appointment, stating, “It is embarrassing for our academic community to see an unqualified individual teaching at a university like Begum Rokeya University. A person who failed to achieve a GPA of 4 in either the SSC or HSC and received low grades in key subjects should not hold a teaching position.”
In response to the allegations, Yusuf argued that he qualified under the stipulation in the job advertisement that no candidate should have received a grade lower than “B” in any examination. He attributed the confusion regarding the requirements to weaknesses in the job circular, claiming that he had been rightfully recommended by the selection board.
The university is currently conducting an investigation to determine the validity of Yusuf’s appointment and whether appropriate actions will be taken.
