DHAKA, 4 August 2022 (BSS) - The High Court (HC) today passed an order stating that the demotion order of Dhaka University (DU) teacher Samia Rahman was illegal. 

A High Court Division Bench consisting of Justice Zafar Ahmed and Justice Md Aktaruzzaman gave this verdict today declaring the previously issued rule as absolute. 

At the same time, the court ordered the concerned authorities to return her post with all facilities she is entitled to. 

Barrister Hasan MS Azim stood on behalf of Samia Rahman in the court. Deputy Attorney General Nowroz Md Russell Chowdhury represented the state. 

On September 5 last year, the High Court issued a ruling seeking to know why Dhaka University's decision to demote Samia Rahman, a teacher in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, should not be declared illegal. 

At the same time, Samia Rahman's research fraud related investigation committee report, formed tribunal documents along with all documents were asked to be submitted to the court.

Besides, Dhaka University's VC and those concerned were asked to respond to the rule within four weeks. 

Samia Rahman filed a writ in the High Court challenging the decision of Dhaka University on August 31 last year. On January 28 of the same year, she was dismissed as punishment for research fraud. 

This decision was taken at the Syndicate meeting held under the chairmanship of University Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman. The university syndicate formed two tribunals to determine the punishment of the three teachers as the allegations were proved in the two incidents. 

In December 2016, an eight-page research paper entitled 'A New Dimension of Colonialism and Pop Culture: A Case Study of the Cultural Imperialism' written jointly by Samia Rahman and Syed Mahfuzul Haque Marzan, Lecturer of Criminology Department of Dhaka University was published in the university's 'Social Science Review' journal. 

It was alleged that they copied almost five pages from an article titled 'The Subject and Power' by French philosopher Michel Foucault, published in 1982 in the University of Chicago journal 'Critical Inquiry'. 

In September 2017, the University of Chicago Press informed Dhaka University authorities about the ‘theft’ through a written complaint. 

Later, the DU authorities took the matter in consideration and decided to demote her. Samia Rahman later challenged the decision in the High Court.