Tanvir Mahim, CoU Correspondent

Students of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) of Comilla University (CoU), enrolled in the academic session 2020-21, have demanded the inclusion of two batch representatives in the investigation committee to ensure transparency and the swift completion of the inquiry into the allegations against Assistant Professor Kazi M. Anisul Islam regarding the question leak incident.

On Sunday, March 16, two representatives from the batch, Adnanul Alam and Mariyam Akter Shilpi, submitted a memorandum signed on behalf of the batch to the head of the department for the investigation committee. The memorandum contained five key demands from the batch’s students.

The memorandum highlighted allegations of attempts to destroy crucial evidence related to the scandal. Additionally, they requested that the preliminary findings of the investigation be disclosed to the students before the upcoming exams.

The five demands raised by the students are: 1. Preventing the destruction of relevant evidence connected to the allegations and taking immediate measures before such incidents occur. 2. Seizing the answer scripts of students associated with the allegations and cross-verifying them with the evidence before producing an initial report ahead of the next exams. 3. Inclusion of student representatives in the investigation committee. 4. Investigating how the numbering of the “306 Course Before Final Assignment” was completed without conducting a midterm assessment. 5. Publishing the investigation report promptly.

When approached for comments, the investigation committee’s convener, Professor Dr. Md. Zakir Sayedullah Khan, stated that he would not provide any comments during the ongoing investigation.

Earlier, on Wednesday, March 12, an anonymous email accused Assistant Professor Kazi M. Anisul Islam of providing a question paper with answers to a female student. The email included substantial evidence via a shared drive. Following this incident, the sixth-semester final examination of the 2020-21 session was suspended. Furthermore, the accused professor has been barred from entering the campus during the ongoing investigation.