Rajshahi, March 6, (V7N) – In a controversial move, Rajshahi University (RU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib appointed Momen Khandaker Opi as an Assistant Programmer at the university’s ICT Center before his graduation results were officially published.

The appointment, issued through an office order signed by Acting Registrar Professor Iftikharul Alam Masud on November 18, was made on an ad hoc basis for six months, with a salary scale of Tk 22,000–53,060. However, Momen’s undergraduate final examination results were only published on December 12, nearly a month after his hiring.

According to RU’s Registrar’s Office, the Assistant Programmer position is equivalent to a first-class officer, requiring a minimum bachelor's degree. University teachers and former ICT officials have raised concerns, pointing out that without a graduation certificate, Momen was technically only HSC-qualified at the time of his appointment.

One professor, speaking on condition of anonymity, criticized the decision:
"This is highly irregular. A first-class job requires a bachelor's degree. If such hiring practices continue, it will harm the university’s reputation."

A former ICT Center director echoed the concerns:
"An Assistant Programmer must have a degree in Computer Science or a related field. Hiring someone before their results are officially published is unacceptable."

Defending the appointment, ICT Center Director Professor Chaiful Islam stated that the hiring was urgent due to the university's admission test and that Momen was “the best programmer in the department.” He claimed:
"We had no other qualified candidates, and Momen had two years of experience as a student."

Momen himself denied any irregularity, arguing that he had provided "unofficial documents" confirming his graduation status. However, Professor Md. Rokanuzzaman, head of the Computer Science and Engineering Department, dismissed this claim, stating:
"Unofficial results do not exist. A student awaiting results should be considered ineligible for employment."

Vice-Chancellor Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib distanced himself from the decision, saying:
"I left the matter to the ICT Center director. I will review the rules with the registrar and take appropriate action."

With growing scrutiny from faculty members, the university administration may face further pressure to justify or reverse the controversial appointment.

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