A question has been raised about the PhD degree of Md Mokhles ur Rahman, senior secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, as he is illegally using ‘Dr.’ title before his name.
He started using ‘Dr.’ before his name after obtaining a controversial PhD degree from a foreign online university.
It is unethical and illegal to use ‘Dr.’ before the name after obtaining such an unauthorised PhD degree.
Talking to the Daily Bangladesh Post on Friday, Mokhles ur Rahman admitted that he has obtained PhD degree online from an American university.
When asked about the illegal use of the ‘Dr.’ title, he said, “In the context of Bangladesh, degrees obtained online may not be allowed. However, I have a PhD degree.” He didn’t want to say any more in this regard.
According to information displayed on his profile on the ministry’s website, he obtained ‘PhD degree’ from the American East Coast University in the USA. However, it is basically an online university.
According to the information displayed on the university’s website, this institution mainly offers online PhD and Master’s degrees. “American East Coast University’s well-designed online courses can furnish adult learners with more control over the learning process,” it is written on the website of the institution.
It is written in the biodata of the senior secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration available on the ministry’s website, “Dr. Md. Mokhles ur Rahman is an accomplished academic and professional with a diverse background in education, government service, and international organisations. He is a Harvard graduate, holding a Master’s in Public Administration, and earned his PhD from the American East Coast University, USA. He also completed his Honors and Master’s degrees in Finance from Dhaka University. He was born in a noble Muslim family in Rangpur.”
As per the policy of the University Grants Commission (UGC), online PhD degree is not recognised and approved in Bangladesh. According to the Article 6 (b) of the UGC policy- Equivalence of Foreign Degree, “Ph.D degree, other professional degrees and any degree obtained in less than three years obtained through online and determination of class/grade of the degree will not be under the purview of the Equivalency Committee.”
Dr. Ferdous Zaman, a director of the UGC; told the Daily Bangladesh Post that a Ph.D degree obtained online is invalid in Bangladesh. As a result, no one with such Ph.D degree obtained in this way can use ‘Doctor’ before the name. It is unethical and unlawful.
“If any government job holder obtains a PhD degree from a foreign recognised university through due process, it must also be confirmed by the UGC. Required documents for Ph.D degree obtained from abroad must be submitted to the UGC with application for equivalency. We check and scrutinise the equivalency. Then we provide approval. No government service holder can use a Ph.D degree unless we ensure equivalency. It is illegal if anyone holds a government job with ‘Doctorate’ degree without our approval,” said Dr. Ferdous Zaman.
A DU teacher said that it is very unfortunate that a person like Md Mokhles ur Rahman uses such an unauthorised Ph.D degree and ‘Dr.’ title before his name. If the use of such unauthorised doctorate degree by an official holding an important position like a secretary is not stopped, it will encourage others to take such illegal online Ph.D degree or fake degree in the name of online Ph.D degree. The authorities concerned should take action in this regard, he added.
It can be mentioned that some study centres in Dhaka offer Ph.D degree in the name of foreign university to make money. There is allegation that the study centres take several lakh money for such a Ph.D certificate.
