Confusion Over Teachers' Association Titles in Jagannath University Notice, PR Office Says It Is Correcting It

Allegations have been raised against Jagannath University's public relations office over publishing confusing information about the titles of the acting president and the general secretary of the university's Teachers' Association.

Leaders of the Teachers' Association claim that a notice published with the vice-chancellor's final approval named the representatives of the two office-holders as acting president and general secretary, instead of the two teachers actually holding those responsibilities.

After a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony in the vice-chancellor's conference room on Wednesday (4 November), a notice published on the university's official Facebook page named Professor Dr Azam Khan as acting president of the Teachers' Association and Professor Dr Mohammad Bilal Hossain as acting general secretary.

However, association leaders say the acting president's responsibility actually lies with Professor Dr Mohammad Manjur Murshed Bhuiya and the general secretary's responsibility with Professor Dr Imranul Haque.

Teachers' Association general secretary Professor Dr Imranul Haque said he was surprised to see such information in the notice. He said he had not handed acting responsibility to anyone, neither verbally nor in writing. That day he was on official leave doing moderation work at another university, he said.

He added that such a mistake can create confusion among the public, so the office concerned should be more careful.

Teachers' Association acting president Professor Dr Mohammad Manjur Murshed Bhuiya said that as soon as the matter came to their attention, the public relations office was informed. As he had gone to the university's new campus on university work, he had sent a member of the Teachers' Association to the ceremony as his representative. Professor Dr Azam Khan was present there not as acting president, but as the acting president's representative, he said.

He added that the public relations office has acknowledged the matter as a mistake and said it would correct it. The office also expressed regret to him over it, he said.

On the matter, Professor Dr Md Anisur Rahman, director of the university's Public Relations, Information and Publication Office, said the notice mentioned Azam Khan as acting president and Bilal Hossain as acting general secretary of the Teachers' Association. The purpose of the notice was to convey that they were performing these duties as representatives, he said.

He added that their notices are published after three levels of approval and are uploaded to the university's verified page only after the vice-chancellor sees the final version. However, they are correcting it, he said.

Notably, a memorandum of understanding was signed on Wednesday between Jagannath University and The Ibn Sina Trust. Under it, special discounts are to be given on health check-ups and medical services for the university's teachers, students referred from the university medical centre, officers and employees, and their eligible dependants.