Alleged Recruitment Fraud at University of Rajshahi

Allegations of result manipulation and procedural irregularities have emerged regarding the recruitment of lecturers within the Urdu Department at the University of Rajshahi (RU). It is reported that a candidate who secured the second position in the merit list was bypassed in favour of a candidate who ranked fourth. Despite a subject specialist from the selection board refusing to sign the final merit list in protest, the University Syndicate—the institution’s highest decision-making body—approved the appointment.

Background and Candidate Credentials

The aggrieved candidate, Dr. A. Salam, boasts an esteemed academic record from the University of Dhaka. His credentials include:

• Academic Excellence: First Class First in both Bachelor’s (2008) and Master’s (2009) degrees in Urdu.

• Higher Research: Completion of an MPhil in 2014 and a PhD in 2019.

• Accolades: Recipient of two gold medals and author of a research monograph alongside numerous scholarly articles.

Dr. Salam has formally submitted a written complaint via email to the University’s Legal Cell, citing systematic corruption and discrimination.

The Selection Process and Discrepancies

The recruitment process was initiated on 30 April of last year, seeking to fill three permanent lecturer positions. On 7 August, 43 candidates sat for the written examination. Following standard protocols, 18 candidates were shortlisted for viva voce interviews—representing three times the number of expected vacancies, as the board had internally decided to increase the intake from three to six lecturers based on departmental requirements.

The selection board, which included Professor Md. Israfil from the University of Dhaka as an external expert, initially reached a consensus on a ranked list of six candidates based on academic merit and interview performance.

Comparative Credentials of Disputed Rankings

Revelations of Manipulation

According to Professor Israfil, the expert member, he was later summoned to the Registrar’s office and informed that the recruitment would be limited to three posts instead of six. Upon reviewing the revised list, he discovered that the second-ranked candidate had been removed, and the fourth-ranked individual moved up into the top three.

Professor Israfil stated:

“I protested to the Vice-Chancellor, reminding him that he had personally recorded the rankings we all agreed upon. There was no disagreement during the board meeting. When I questioned why the second-placed candidate was being skipped, they suggested that priority was being given to a candidate who was a former student of Rajshahi University.”

Despite these objections, the Syndicate ratified the appointments on 11 September.

Institutional Defence and Counter-Claims

The then-Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the selection board, Saleh Hassan Naquib, dismissed the allegations of foul play, asserting that the board is not required to be unanimous and that “anyone can lodge a complaint.”

However, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Farid Uddin offered a different justification, claiming the decision was influenced by seniority and institutional preference. He alleged that the excluded candidate was over 50 years old—a claim refuted by Dr. Salam’s actual age of 39. Professor Farid Uddin maintained that it is standard practice to prioritise Rajshahi University’s own graduates.

The current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Md. Faridul Islam, has stated that the matter has not yet been formally brought to his attention but confirmed that any such allegations involving the lack of an expert’s signature would warrant a thorough investigation.