Professor Dr. Md Saidul Arefin, director of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science of Dhaka University (DU), is involved in stock exchange business. For this reason, he is not attentive to his academic activities.
It was alleged that the DU teacher is prioritizing his private business activities instead of his university duties.
A faculty member of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science said, “Dr. Md Saidul Arefin runs a business in Motijheel in the capital, where he goes regularly in the morning and returns in the evening."
Talking to the Daily Bangladesh Post, some students that Dr. Saidul Arefin frequently remains absent in his office during working hours and he is not available for contact. “If anyone needs to reach him urgently, they must call him. Only then does he respond,” said a student.
When asked, Professor Dr. Saidul Arefin admitted the matter. “It is true that I am involved in the stock exchange business. If I am asked to stop, I will quit the stock business,” he said.
In response to the allegations, a professor of the DU’s Institute of Nutrition and Food Science explained, “A teacher may engage in a part-time job or business, but if it becomes a full-time commit
ment, they must take a leave of absence, known as deputation, to avoid breaching university regulations. If approved by the DU Syndicate, they can continue their business activities.”
He further said, “During deputation, the individual retains their position but forfeits their salary.”
It is to be noted that Professor Dr. Md Saidul Arefin was accused of full-time at the Uttara Modern Medical College Hospital during the tenure of former Vice-Chancellor Professor ASM Arefin Siddique. Later, when the allegation was found to be true, the university authorities fined him Tk 22 lakh instead of dismissing him.
