Staff Correspondent

Dhaka University Senate members have proposed to revoke the doctoral degree awarded to former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed as the degree was conferred violating the rules of the institution.

Ranjit Kumar Saha, Senate member and Bangladesh Teachers’ Association advisor, made the proposal at the annual session of the Senate in the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban on Wednesday.

Senate member Prof ABM Obaidul Islam also agreed to the proposal.

In 2019, Benazir obtained a doctorate (Doctor of Business Administration) from the Faculty of Business Studies at DU for his thesis on “Contribution of Bangladesh UN Peace Keeping Force to Our National Economy”.

Ranjit Kumar said Benazir did not have the qualification to earn a doctoral degree as an aspirant must have a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks in all public examinations to apply for a PhD programme. “He was given the opportunity of admission by relaxing the conditions.”

Prof Obaidul said that Benazir was given the opportunity since he was an influential figure despite having no qualifications as per results in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations.

The Kaler Kantho and the Daily Sun, in early April, published a series of reports detailing the wealth and properties allegedly acquired through illegal means by Benazir Ahmed and his family members which sparked a widespread discussion throughout the country.

Amid the investigation into the corruption allegations, the ex-IGP along with his family members left the country on 4 May.

On 28 May, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) asked the former police chief to appear before it on 6 June and his wife and their two daughters on 9 June. Following their applications seeking time, the ACC set 23 June and 24 June respectively for their appearance before it.

Benazir and his family members skipped the ACC quizzing on the dates either.