Allegations have emerged that the recruitment process for new teachers in the law department of Dhaka University prioritized political affiliations over merit. According to the report, during a selection board meeting on May 5, six candidates were recommended from a pool of 24, allegedly ignoring established criteria such as academic results, research publications, and professional experience. The board included senior university officials and faculty members. Several top-ranked candidates were reportedly excluded, while others with lower academic scores and political connections were recommended.

Among the recommended candidates, Moniruzzaman and Maksuda Sarker faced accusations of publishing in predatory journals and maintaining close ties with politically influential figures. Moniruzzaman acknowledged publishing in such journals by mistake and later retracting the papers. Another candidate, Ali Mashraf, was accused of benefiting from political lobbying. University officials, including the pro-vice-chancellor (education), acknowledged the issue of predatory journals but declined to comment on the recruitment decisions.

Teachers, students, and applicants have called for an investigation to ensure transparency and merit-based recruitment, warning that failure to address the allegations could harm the university’s academic integrity and reputation.