One man holds 2 vital posts in 2 universities

A university professor has managed to hold multiple important administrative posts simultaneously at universities situated in different districts for over one and a half years now.

Prof Dr Md Mostafizer Rahman has been appointed both as the chairman of Department of Microbiology at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) in Dinajpur and Dean of Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science at Gono Bishwabidyalay in Savar.

On top of that, he has also been serving as the director of Planning, Development and Works at HSTU.

All the information mentioned above were available on the universities’ websites and confirmed by sources.

Asked whether a professor could occupy these many posts, Kamal Hossain, director (admin) of University Grants Commission (UGC), told The Daily Star that one could do so only if s/he was on lien or received permission from his primary employer.

Contacted, Prof Mostafizer claimed he no longer held the dean’s post at Gono Bishwabidyalay.

“I was the Dean of Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science at Gono Bishwabidyalay between 2015 and 2018. I was on lien at that time,” he said.

“The university authorities might have forgotten to remove my name from their website,” he added.

The Daily Star, however, found documents that showed Prof Mostafizer attended a conference of National Veterinary Deans’ Council (NVDC) in Dhaka on August 27 this year as the Dean of Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science at Gono Bishwabidyalay.

He also issued certificates to students at Gono Bishwabidyalay this year as the dean of the faculty.

Besides, Md Jashim Uddin, an administrative official of Gono Bishwabidyalay, confirmed that Prof Mostafizer was holding the dean’s post when this report was filed.

Sources at HSTU also alleged that Prof Mostafizer mostly stayed out of his office as he remained busy with his other duties out of the university.

He also takes classes at other private universities regularly, said Prof Dr Harun Ur Rashid, dean of Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science at HSTU.

“It is a violation of HSTU’s discipline,” he added.

Asked, Prof Mostafizer admitted that he still takes classes at Gono Bishwabidyalay.

“I take classes at Gono Bishwabidyalay on my day offs,” he said.

Fazlul Haque, registrar of HSTU, said he was unaware of the incident.

“Nobody can lawfully hold two administrative posts at two universities at the same time,” he said.

Prof Mostafizer was appointed as the chairman of chairman of Department of Microbiology at HSTU on February 22 last year by the administration of Vice-chancellor Prof Dr M Abul Kashem. He was appointed as the director of Department of Planning, Development and Works on March 5 the same year.

VC Kashem, however, told the journalists recently that he asked Prof Mostafizer to close all sort of involvement with Gono Bishwabidyalay.