Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University revokes Professor Emeritus title over procedural and financial irregularities
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Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) has formally revoked the appointment of medicine specialist Professor A.B.M. Abdullah as ‘Professor Emeritus,’ citing procedural irregularities, administrative non-compliance, and a lack of institutional accountability. The university administration announced the decision following an internal review that determined the lifetime appointment was legally flawed and lacked the necessary academic rigor.
According to a press statement released by Registrar Professor Md. Mostafa Kamal, the revocation was not aimed at any individual but was a necessary corrective measure to ensure institutional governance and fiscal transparency. A review of university records revealed that Professor Abdullah, who was granted the status, had failed to engage in any teaching or research activities for the past two years, despite regularly collecting salary and benefits.
বিজ্ঞাপন
The controversy stems from a June 2024 syndicate meeting, which introduced sweeping amendments to the Professor Emeritus ordinance. The university claims these changes, which transitioned the position from a limited honorarium-based role to a full-time, high-salaried lifetime appointment, were introduced during a budget session without proper notice or procedural merit. Critics within the administration argue this was an unprecedented and illegal maneuver designed to provide specific financial advantages to a single individual, noting that the professor had already drawn more than 1.45 million taka in payments under this arrangement.
The university administration highlighted that the appointment failed to follow the mandatory statutory process, which requires a formal proposal from a department head, assessment by a search committee, and formal evaluation. Instead, university records indicate the appointment was based on a single nomination identifying Professor Abdullah as a former personal physician to the Prime Minister. Furthermore, the university noted that the financial structure imposed—providing full-time professorial pay for an emeritus role—is inconsistent with the practices of other public universities in the country.
বিজ্ঞাপন
In response to the cancellation, Professor Abdullah has defended his career, pointing to his fifty years of service in medical education and his widely recognized contributions to the field. He expressed disappointment in the manner of the cancellation, describing the process as unethical and asserting that his initial appointment was based solely on his professional merits and achievements.
The university has indicated that since the appointment was found to be legally void due to procedural failures, it is now obligated to address the recovery of the funds already disbursed. The current administration maintains that the decision is a step toward restoring the integrity of the Professor Emeritus title, ensuring that such positions are awarded based on academic contributions rather than administrative or political favoritism.
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