DU honours viva conducted ‘violating rules’

A Dhaka University teacher has allegedly conducted viva voce of the honours final exam in absence of an external examiner, which violates university rules.

The teacher, Dr Sazzad Hossain, chairperson of the exam committee, conducted the viva voce for students of the international relations department.

Before the exam, the department formed a three-member committee, with Prof Ruhul Amin, chairperson of the department, and retired professor Abul Kalam Azad from Jahangirnagar University (JU) as external examiner.

According to DU's ordinance and regulations, the presence of an external examiner is mandatory to prepare question papers, conduct viva voce and finalise results.

On February 20, Prof Abul Kalam submitted a letter to DU's exam controller, in which he said, "I had informed the exam committee's chairman that I would not be present at the moderation meeting. But I would be present at the viva voce."

"However, I heard that the viva voce has already taken place without my knowledge. I wonder what the regulations state about holding a viva voce without the knowledge of a member of the examination committee," read the letter.

On March 8, another letter was submitted to the exam controller by Prof Abdul Mannan, a teacher in the department.

It stated that on January 16, Sazzad conducted the viva voce of some students in absence of two other committee members, which is clearly a violation of university rules.

Talking to The Daily Star some of those students confirmed the allegation.

Contacted, Sazzad denied the allegation and said it was part of a conspiracy against him. "The external teacher informed me that he could not attend the viva voce," he said.

"We have formed a fact-finding committee following the matter. Once we get the report, we will know what actually happened," said Prof Ruhul Amin, chairperson of the department.

DU Vice Chancellor Prof M Akhtaruzzaman told The Daily Star, "We will not compromise with university rules. Authorities concerned will take action if anyone is found guilty."