Controversy erupts over recommendation leak of Jamaat-affiliated former MP in RU teacher recruitment

A controversy has arisen regarding the recommendation of a Jamaat-affiliated former Member of Parliament in the recruitment of teachers at Rajshahi University (RU). The issue surfaced after a recommendation letter signed by Latifur Rahman, former MP of Chapainawabganj-3 and a Jamaat leader, along with an admission card, was leaked on social media, sparking widespread discussion and criticism.

The incident came to light on Saturday night when Professor Farid Uddin Khan, Vice-Provost (Academic) of the university, uploaded a photo of the admission card of a candidate named Azmira Arefin on his Facebook story. The admission card clearly stated in English: “Referred by Former MP Latifur Rahman, Chapainawabganj-3.”

According to university sources, Azmira Arefin is a candidate for the position of Lecturer in the Crop Science and Technology Department at Rajshahi University. Her oral examination is scheduled to be held on Monday, August 4, in the Vice-Chancellor’s office.

Following widespread criticism on social media, Professor Farid Uddin clarified his position in a Facebook post on Saturday night. He claimed, “I do not understand how the photo appeared on my story. My son was playing games on the mobile phone, and perhaps it was mistakenly uploaded at that time.”

He further added, “Every day, some applicants or their representatives submit CVs and admission cards. Some send them via WhatsApp, some call, some text. Many acquaintances make requests. I believe these recommendations do not influence written or oral examination decisions in any way.”

However, this explanation itself sparked further controversy. Some questioned, “Why did only the recommendation of the Jamaat leader among dozens of references go viral?” A user named Likhan Ahmed commented, “This is not a mistake, but planned! The upcoming RAKSU election will stir unrest over this issue.”

Several commenters advised being cautious about giving mobile phones to children. Some also questioned the security of administrative information, saying, “If a university administrator’s Facebook account is so insecure, how can administrative data security be ensured?”

Political analysts outside the university are also watching the issue closely. Recently, many Jamaat-affiliated teachers were elected uncontested in the RU Alumni Association elections after BNP-affiliated teachers boycotted the polls. Against this backdrop, the leak of the Jamaat leader’s recommendation has sparked renewed controversy.

Repeated attempts to contact former MP Latifur Rahman were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls from journalists. Therefore, his comments could not be obtained.

The university administration has not yet issued any formal explanation, but concerns about ethical transparency and impartiality in the recruitment process are growing among the academic community.