Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) authorities on Saturday called the appointment of Dr A B M Abdullah as Emeritus Professor unlawful saying the process of his appointment did not comply the due rules and regulations.
"Prof Abdullah's appointment was made just on consideration his role as the personal physician to the former premier bypassing all mandatory selection procedures that was entirely unlawful," said a BMU press release.
It said Section 5 of the Emeritus Professor Appointment Ordinance mandates that any such appointment must require a proposal by the departmental chairman, submission it to the Vice-Chancellor through the Dean, its evaluation by a specially formed committee, and final approval of that committee.
"But, he was appointed as lifetime Emeritus Professor solely based on the proposal of a single member.... So, the university declared the method of his appointment illegal," it added.
Issuing a clarification, the university stated that the decision to cancel the appointment was not targeted at any individual, but rather taken to correct severe administrative and procedural violations while ensuring legal compliance, transparency, and financial accountability.
The fundamental changes to the Emeritus Professor Ordinance - which introduced the lifetime provision and altered the financial structure - were raised outside the main agenda during the 92nd Syndicate budget session on June 20, 2024.
The BMU authorities noted that introducing an out-of-agenda proposal and applying its benefits instantly in the very same meeting is unprecedented, legally controversial, and highly irregular. It appeared the rushed process was designed specifically to grant extraordinary privileges to one individual.
The structural changes also violated the university's financial governance. The original 2022 appointment was a fixed three-year term with a limited monthly honorarium of Taka 30,000, which complied with university limits. The unlawful 2024 amendment, however, transformed the honorary post into a lifetime, salary-like position, setting his monthly remuneration equivalent to his final retirement basic salary and allowances, alongside lifetime office space, staff, and perks.
University statutes mandate that any major financial commitment must be scrutinized by the Finance Committee. However, no records exist showing this change was ever presented to the Finance Committee, creating long-term, recurring financial liabilities for the university without proper oversight. Under this arrangement, Prof Abdullah drew over Taka 14.5 lakh.
Furthermore, the release stated that despite regularly withdrawing his salaries and allowances on a quarterly basis over the past two years, Prof Abdullah did not attend the workplace, conduct classes, engage in research, or even inform the administration of his absence.
Analyzing these extensive legal and procedural violations, the current Syndicate in its meeting on June 13, 2026, officially cancelled the lifetime appointment dating back to June 24, 2024.
As a legal consequence of the unlawful appointment, BMU authorities stated they are obligated under existing regulations to recover all financial benefits disbursed under the void contract. The university has officially requested the return of the salary drawn during this period, clarifying that this is a standard legal mandate and not intended to harass anyone.
The university reiterated its commitment to upholding lawful processes and institutional good governance, stressing that the proper adherence to laws and regulations applies equally to everyone to safeguard the dignity of higher education institutions.
