DU to expel 15 student frauds

The Disciplinary Board of Dhaka University yesterday recommended expulsion of 15 students for their involvement in a gang of admission fraud.

Twelve of them were admitted to the university last year through fraudulence, while the remaining three students were members of a gang that helped admission seekers -- either by providing leaked questions or sending answers during the test through electronic devices.

The disciplinary board, comprising the vice chancellor, deans and provosts, took the decision during a meeting with VC Prof Akhtaruzzaman in the chair. The recommendation would be sent to the syndicate for approval.

With the help of law enforcement agencies, the university proctorial team investigated the issue after getting some documents and information from mass media, and found them guilty, said Proctor Prof AKM Golam Rabbani.

“Some of the accused were involved in the fraud syndicate and some got enrolled into the university through digital cheating or adopting unfair means," he added.

Three students -- Navim Anjum Tonoy of geography and environment science, Mohiuddin Rana of physics, Abdullah Al Mamun of applied chemistry and chemical engineering -- were members of the digital fraud gang.

The Criminal Investigative Department (CID) of police held Tonoy, a resident student of Amar Ekushey Hall and key member of the gang behind the question paper leak, on November 21.

On the other hand, Rana is an assistant secretary of BCL central committee and Abdullah Al Mamun the theatre and debate affairs secretary of BCL's Amar Ekushey Hall unit.

The two were picked up by CID from two DU dormitories on October 20. During primary interrogation, the arrestees confessed to the crime, said CID.

The law enforcers claimed to have arrested at least 10 DU students as of now suspecting their involvement in the digital fraud or question leak syndicate.

The 12 students are Nahid Iftekhar of political science, Md Bayezid of psychology, Md Azizul Hakim of world religion and culture, Prosenjit Das of Sanskrit, Fardin Ahmed Sabbir of Institute of Health Economics, Tanveer Ahmed Mollick of economics, Rifat Hossain of political science, Rafsan Karim of Islamic studies, Akhinur Rahman Anik of Bangla, TM Tanveer Hossain of history, Munshi Mohammad Sujaur Rahman of Institute of Education and Research(IER), and Nazmul Hasan Naeem of Pali and Buddhist studies.

All of them were admitted in the 2016-2017 academic session.

QUESTION LEAK ISSUE SHUNNED

Meanwhile, the proctor declined to comment when he was asked if they have found any proof of question leaks.

On September 20, the university authorities held the “Gha” admission test amid allegations of question leaks. Several newspapers including The Daily Star published stories showing how the English multiple choice question (MCQ) part of the question was leaked via email or social platforms.

The university authorities, however, published the results within the shortest possible time denying the allegation and snubbing protests from different left-leaning student organisations.