HC questions demotion of DU faculty member Samia Rahman

The High Court today questioned the decision by Dhaka University authorities to demote its faculty member Samia Rahman on charges of plagiarism in a research paper.

 The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman issued a rule asking why the decision to downgrade Samia Rahman to the post of assistant professor from the post of associate professor should not be declared illegal and to give an explanation in four weeks.

Authorities concerned of the government and DU were made respondents to the rule.

Samia Rahman, a faculty member of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, filed a writ petition challenging the legality of DU Syndicate's decision on January 28 this year that demoted her.

The HC also ordered the DU registrar to submit the relevant documents including the probe report regarding the alleged plagiarism of the article of Samia Rahman before this court in three weeks.

"The article in question was not prepared by Samia Rahman and there was no signature from her in the article," Samia's lawyer Hassan MS Azim told The Daily Star.

"Samia Rahman had informed the DU authorities about it but she was demoted without providing her with any probe report, which is illegal and contradictory to the constitution," he added.    

Three Dhaka University faculty members including Samia Rahman were demoted on January 28 on the charge of plagiarism in their research papers, at a monthly syndicate meeting of the university.

The other two demoted faculty members are Syed Mahfujul Haque Marjan of the Department of Criminology and Muhammad Omor Faruq of the Department of Islamic History and Culture.

Omor, who was an assistant professor, has been demoted to lecturer and his PhD degree has been cancelled. Marjan, who was a lecturer, is currently on study leave.

The syndicate had decided that Marjan would have to discharge duties as a lecturer for two more years after he rejoins the university.