Tanvir Mahim‚ CoU

In universities, quality research papers or articles are essential for teachers’ promotions and job confirmations. However, Israt Jahan Nimni, an Assistant Professor in the English Department at Comilla University, has been accused of publishing a student’s research paper as her own to secure her job confirmation.

Investigations reveal that in 2019, Israt Jahan Nimni was a teacher in the English Department at Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU). At that time, a student named Rifat Sultana Jahan completed her M.A. thesis titled “Subjugation, Marginalization and Double Colonization: A Reading of The Avarodhbasini, The Dark Holds No Terrors and The God of Small Things” under her supervision.

Recently, when Comilla University’s new administration published a teacher recruitment notice, Israt Jahan, without permission, published a research article titled “Breaking the Silence: A Quest for Self in Shashi Deshpande’s The Dark Holds No Terrors” in the “International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences,” based on the subject matter of her former student’s M.A. thesis, to secure her job. The article was submitted to the journal on November 17 and published on December 31, 2024. Nimni did not include the student as a co-author in this article.

Rifat Jahan learned about the publication of the research paper on February 17 when she received an email from the “International Journal of Literature and Arts” requesting her to submit the article’s abstract. Subsequently, on February 13, she sent a complaint letter to the Registrar of Comilla University.

In her complaint letter, Rifat Sultana Jahan stated that Israt Jahan directly copied from the third chapter of her M.A. thesis without her permission. She also alleged that Nimni used quotes and paraphrasing from other parts of the thesis, such as the draft samples sent on January 6, 2019, and August 23, 2019, and the thesis presentation. Furthermore, Israt Jahan did not agree to acknowledge her as the original author of the thesis.

Regarding this matter, Rifat Sultana Jahan said, “On September 9 last year, Nimni called me and took the original file of my thesis. After that, I had no contact with her. On November 12, I saw a missed call from her number and called back. She then said, ‘I am doing some research and want to include you as a second researcher.’ Later, when she said she wanted to publish my thesis, I asked her why she would publish my research. She replied, ‘What will you do with these things? These will not be of any use to you.’ I immediately refused her. However, I became certain about the matter after receiving an email on February 18. Now I am afraid whether she has published my other three topics as well.”

She further added, “This is an attack on my research and creates uncertainty about academic ethics. Such behavior undermines the reputation of the university and the right to research.”

Attempts to contact Israt Jahan Nimni via email, WhatsApp, and mobile phone for comments on the allegations were unsuccessful.

When asked about the matter, Comilla University Registrar Professor Anwar Hossain acknowledged the issue and stated that the accused teacher has withdrawn the research article from the journal. He also mentioned that the teacher has not taken any benefits from the university regarding the article. When asked whether any action would be taken regarding the forgery, he said that it would have to be investigated.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Haider Ali said, “I have learned about the matter from you. I will discuss it with everyone tomorrow and make a decision.”

It is noteworthy that on February 22, 2023, the administration, under the influence of former Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Abdul Moin, appointed Israt Jahan Nimni, wife of Associate Professor Dr. Mohammad Kamal of the Physics Department, without confirming the internal candidates, Assistant Professor Akbar Hossain and Renaissance Ahmed Saima of the English Department, despite the Departmental Planning Committee’s recommendation. Moreover, Nimni did not fulfill the conditions of the appointment. The recruitment notice required a CGPA of 3.50 in one of the undergraduate or postgraduate results and 3.35 in the other. However, according to the UGC’s uniform policy, the condition for promotion to the post of Assistant Professor is a CGPA of 3.50 in one and 3.25 in the other. According to the recruitment notice, this candidate’s result is lower. However, university teachers have alleged that the authorities innovatively mentioned two conditions in the notice to accommodate this candidate. Before joining Comilla University, she worked as an Assistant Professor at Noakhali Science and Technology University.