Six months after assurance, NSTU teacher Golam Mostafa still awaits promotion, anger among teachers and students

Dr Md Golam Mostafa, chairman of the Oceanography Department and an associate professor at Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU), says he has been denied promotion to professor for four years. He had also sat on a hunger strike unto death over the demand.

On April 21 at 10:30am, Dr Golam Mostafa began the hunger strike at the university's central Shaheed Minar. Teachers and students of the department joined him in solidarity.

During the strike he alleged that he had long been kept from promotion to professor, that his professional dignity had been harmed and that he had suffered mental distress. He said the allegations brought against him had been proved false on verification, and that his promotion remained stuck even after he supplied all the information the administration asked for.

At noon on the day of the strike, the then pro-vice-chancellor, the treasurer and senior teachers went to the Shaheed Minar. As the then vice-chancellor was in Dhaka, the pro-vice-chancellor, after discussing with him, assured Mostafa that his lawful dues would be restored within seven to ten days. On that assurance, Dr Mostafa suspended the hunger strike.

He had, however, set a seven-day deadline and said he would resume the strike if the demand was not met. He said the programme was not for a post, but in protest against the injustice, humiliation and mental distress he had faced.

The then administration took no decision even after the assured period passed. On May 14, a notification of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education appointed Professor Dr Golam Rabbani as NSTU's seventh vice-chancellor, and Dr Muhammad Shafiqul Islam took charge as the new pro-vice-chancellor. Even after the new leadership took over, Dr Mostafa's promotion issue remained unresolved.

Mahe Afran Abir, a final-year student of the department, said that on the day of the hunger strike the administration, including the then VC and pro-VC, had assured that the promotion issue would be resolved very quickly. But it has not been settled even after the new VC and pro-VC took charge.

He added that ensuring a teacher's lawful dues, professional dignity and rights is the responsibility of the university administration. The students of the department reiterated full solidarity with Dr Golam Mostafa's fair demand and strongly urged a quick solution following the rules and policies.

On not getting promotion for a long time, Dr Golam Mostafa said: “This has crossed the extreme limit of oppression. I have no words left.”

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Golam Rabbani said promotion and upgradation work is currently under way at the university. The boards for assistant and associate professor posts are working first, and the process for professor posts will begin after that.

He said not only Dr Mostafa, but the promotions of many others eligible to become professors are also pending, and several applications have been submitted. Expert opinion is required for professor posts, but no separate viva is needed. The administration will complete the promotion process of all eligible candidates step by step.

Asked whether the work could be finished before the next Board of Regents meeting, the vice-chancellor said: “It is quite difficult to complete it before that.”