DU teacher demoted over Ducsu polls irregularities

The Dhaka University (DU) authorities today demoted a teacher after she was found to be involved in irregularities that took place during the Ducsu election last year at Kuwait Maitree Hall on the university campus. 

The university's syndicate, the institution's highest policy-making body, took the decision today with Vice Chancellor Prof Akhtaruzzaman in the chair.

Associate Professor Sabnam Jahan of DU's management department was demoted to assistant professor, a syndicate member told The Daily Star wishing anonymity.

"She has been handed the punishment as the probe body formed over the incident found proof of her involvement with the irregularities. Two other house tutors were given warnings in connection with the same incident," the syndicate member added.

Voting at the girls' hall was suspended around 9:30am on March 11 last year after a stash of marked ballots in favour of Bangladesh Chhatra League's panel was discovered by female students residing at the hall.

Following the incident, Shabnam Jahan, the then provost of the hall, was removed instantly and replaced by Prof Mahbuba Nasrin of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies department.

Later, a meeting of DU syndicate on March 28 the same year relieved Sabnam of academic duties temporarily, and formed a five-member probe body headed by supernumerary Professor Khondoker Bazlul Hoque.

The committee submitted their report almost a year after it was formed. The university authorities awarded her the punishment on basis of the report.