RU controversial questions being investigated

The Rajshahi University authorities yesterday formed a four-member committee to investigate the widely criticised multiple choice questions (MCQs) in the admission test for the fine arts faculty.

Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Anand Kumar Saha heads the committee with Prof M Shahidullah of English, Abu Bakar M Ismail of applied physics and electronic engineering, and Prof M Nazrul Islam of chemistry as its members.

Talking to The Daily Star, the committee head said Vice Chancellor Prof M Abdus Sobhan formed the committee, and it already started the investigation. The committee was asked to submit the report in 15 days, he added.

This year, 4,032 students vied for 120 seats of the faculty. Two of the 80 MCQs in the admission test, held on October 25, have been widely criticised.

One of the questions asked, "What is the name of the greatest book in the world?"

It had four choices: A) The Holy Quran, B) The Holy Bible, C) The Holy Injil and D) Gita.

This particular MCQ, along with another controversial one, later triggered an outrage on the campus and widespread criticism on social media, with many blasting the university authorities for coming up with "extremely communal" questions.

The other question was, "When did the Myanmar army and the Buddhists launch an armed attack on the Rohingya Muslims?"

In the face of criticism, the faculty's admission committee withdrew the questions on that day, saying all examinees would receive full marks for them.