Dhaka University suspends Bengali department professor over financial misconduct and conduct allegations

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Dhaka University has suspended Professor Chowdhury Md. Tashrik-e-Habib from all academic activities following a decision made during a syndicate meeting on Monday night. While initial public discourse suggested the move was linked to the professor’s recent viral videos on social media, university administration clarified that the suspension is the result of a comprehensive investigation into financial irregularities, non-academic conduct, and actions deemed damaging to the institution’s reputation.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Al-Mojaddedee Alfesani confirmed the development, noting that a committee has been established to conduct a formal investigation into the allegations. According to reports from the national daily Prothom Alo, the scrutiny began on May 13 when the Bangla department’s academic committee issued a show-cause notice to Professor Habib. His subsequent written response was ultimately rejected by the committee for lacking justification.

Professor Tarik Manjur of the Bangla department revealed that the charges against Habib include the unauthorized solicitation of funds from M.Phil and PhD researchers. He stated that the preliminary findings of the university-appointed inquiry committee substantiated claims that the professor had coerced money from students. Furthermore, reports surfaced that students were allegedly penalized with unfair grading if they did not purchase books or publications authored by the professor.

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Beyond financial misconduct, the professor’s presence on social media became a point of contention. In recent months, Professor Habib gained widespread attention for posting videos of himself singing popular songs, a move that drew mixed reactions ranging from praise to public ridicule. Many students and colleagues argued that his behavior on digital platforms was inconsistent with the decorum expected of a faculty member at a premier academic institution.

The university’s decision to suspend Professor Habib follows a unified recommendation from the faculty of the Bangla department, who concluded that his pattern of behavior necessitated formal disciplinary intervention. Multiple attempts to reach Professor Habib for comment via telephone and messaging applications were unsuccessful.