Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) has dismissed three of its faculty members for violating university leave policies and staying abroad without permission. The decision follows multiple allegations of unauthorized absences and breaches of educational leave terms.
In a series of notices issued on Sunday (June 30), the university’s Registrar, Tamzid Hossain Chowdhury, confirmed the dismissals, which were approved in the 65th meeting of the Regent Board.
The dismissed professors are: Md. Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury, Assistant Professor of the Department of Microbiology; Zeenat Hossain, Assistant Professor of the Department of Political Science; and Dr. S.M. Nazrul Islam, Professor of the Department of Business Administration.
According to the official notices, Assistant Professor Zeenat Hossain had been on educational leave for PhD studies from October 1, 2018, to January 13, 2024. Though she returned to work on January 14, she failed to report to her department afterward. In response to a show-cause notice, Hossain explained that she had traveled to Switzerland for post-doctoral research at the University of Bern. However, she did not seek permission from the university or follow the official protocol for staying abroad.
Despite repeated reminders, she did not return to her duties. For this violation, the university has ordered her to repay all leave-related financial benefits with interest.
Similarly, Assistant Professor Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury returned to duty briefly after completing his study leave in September 2022 but later failed to attend work without official leave. His prolonged absence has also been deemed a breach of the university’s leave policies.
Prof Dr. S.M. Nazrul Islam of the Department of Business Administration has been absent since October 25, 2022. He remained abroad without obtaining the necessary permission and did not respond to the university’s official communication.
All three professors have been found guilty of "absconding" under Section 2(Cha) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. As per the Regent Board's decision, they have been dismissed from their positions and instructed to return all funds received during their leave, including interest, within one month.
Failure to repay the funds within the given time frame will result in notification to the relevant embassies and employers abroad, as stated in the notices.
