2 RU teachers punished for ‘communal’ questions

The Rajshahi University authorities yesterday (Wednesday) punished two teachers of Fine Arts faculty for their alleged involvement with making and selecting the controversial multiple choice questions (MCQs) in the admission test for the fine arts faculty.

The two teachers are Prof M Mustafizur Rahman, Dean of Fine arts faculty also the convener of the question making committee and M Zillur Rahman, an assistant professor of printmaking and Oriental art department, also a member of question making committee.

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RU Fine Arts Admission Test: Questions over questions

The authority barred the two teachers for 10 years from taking participation into any examination process of the university. And in addition, Assistant Professor M Zillur Rahman's promotion will be stuck for next five years.

The decision was taken in 474th syndicate meeting held yesterday (Wednesday) night, Mamun Abdul Kaiyum, a syndicate member told our RU correspondent.

The meeting also made a primary discussion on removal of Deanship of the Dean Prof Mustafizur Rahman, said the syndicate member.

Earlier on October 28, RU authority formed a four-member probe committee to investigate the matter. And the committee was asked to submit report by 15 days from the day.

Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Anand Kumar Saha headed 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.

The admission aspirants at RU’s Fine Arts faculty on October 25 were asked to answer the multiple choice question: "What is the name of the greatest book in the world?"

The question which had four choices -- A) The Holy Quran, B) The Holy Bible, C) The Holy Injil and D) Gita left the admission seekers surprised and baffled.

The other question was "When did the Myanmar army and the Buddhists launch an armed attack on the Rohingya Muslims?" It was the 41st MCQ on the question paper.

These particular MCQs later triggered an outrage on the campus and criticisms in social media, with many blasting the university authorities for coming up with the "extremely communal" questions.