BSMMU closes, demotes 41 teachers, officers
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) yesterday terminated and demoted 41 of its employees including professors, associate professors and assistant professors.
A total of six professors, 18 associate professors, eight assistant professors and nine others received letters yesterday.
Dr Mohammad Saiful Islam, who was the associate professor of Urology, said, “My letter reads -- your answer was not satisfactory. Your appointment was not officially authorised.
“So the syndicate at its meeting on December 22 decided to cancel your appointment as the associate professor and reverted it to the post of assistant professor.” But I was appointed as associate professor in 2006 after competing in an examination, he said.
He added that the university authorities brought the allegation that it requires three years working experience for an assistant professor to sit for the examination for post of associate professor.
“But I had 12 days less than required,” he said. The terminated teachers and doctors at a press conference at the National Press Club in the city yesterday said without showing any respect to the court and the previous syndicate, the university authorities are taking political revenge.
They asked how the university authorities could cancel recruitment of 41 employees, appointed by the earlier syndicate, when a writ petition is still awaiting hearing at the Higher Court (appellate division).
The university authorities sent a suspension order on June 30 to the 41 employees following the recommendation of Nazrul Committee (an investigation committee headed by Prof Nazrul Islam).
The doctors then challenged the Nazrul Committee report at the Joint District Judge's Court on June 10 this year. But violating the court order to show cause, the university authorities temporarily suspended 41 teachers, doctors and officers.
The victims then filed a writ petition at the High Court division where reappointment of all the suspended employees was ordered.
The university authorities then appealed to the Chamber Judge against the reappointment and the court then stayed the order for 10 days.
Later, the suspended employees appealed to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court to cancel the stay order. The court accepted and it is still awaiting hearing, said the sacked doctors of the university.
Ophthalmology Department Associate Prof Dr Abdul Kuddus, Dr Saiful Islam of Urology, Oncology Department Chairman Prof Syed Akram Hussain and former deputy registrar Dr Rafikul Islam spoke at the press conference, among others.
When contacted, BSMMU authorities however said the court has no embargo regarding termination and degradation of these employees.
“They actually filed a case challenging the report of Nazrul Committee,” said Registrar of the university Abdul Gafur.
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