How Benazir obtained PhD degree from DU

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed obtained a doctorate degree from Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) of the faculty in 2019 from Banking and Insurance Department of Dhaka University. However, he was not eligible for PhD programme. He was granted admission with relaxation of conditions.

It is known that admission to the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program of the Faculty of Business Education of Dhaka University requires a bachelor's degree. At the same time, a candidate must have at least 50 percent marks in every public examination attended to get admitted in this programme, which Benazir did not have.

Benazir was the director general of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at the time of his admission and obtaining the degree. Benazir’s post was taken into consideration behind relaxation of the admission requirement.

On the recommendation of the then Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam, the basic conditions for Benazir's admission were relaxed. Shibli was the supervisor of Benazir's 'doctorate' programme.

The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Dhaka University already had a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme. The Faculty of Business Education received approval to launch the same program in September 2013. On June 24, 2014, Benazir's application for DBA degree was accepted at the meeting of the Faculty of Business Education. He joined the DBA program in the academic year 2014-15 under the Banking and Insurance department of the faculty. He was the student of the first batch in that program.

Benazir’s research topic was, 'Contribution of Bangladesh UN Peace Keeping Force to Our National Economy.'

According to the DBA application, Benazir Ahmed passed SSC equivalent exams from SM Model High School in Gopalganj in 1978 with second division, and cleared HSC equivalent exams from Jagannath College in 1980 with the same division.

Benazir holds a BA (pass) degree from Dhaka University in 1982. According to the BA (Pass) certificate, Benazir secured 517 out of 1000 marks (47 percent). That is, he did not get 50 percent marks. But in his application for admission to the DBA programme, he mentioned that he had secured 301 marks (60 percent) out of a total of 500 marks in the degree or equivalent examination. His BA (pass) certificate mentions the year as 1982. The year mentioned in the DBA application is 1983. He has not submitted any certificate for this year.

Benazir received his master's degree from the English Department of Dhaka University in 1984. According to the Dhaka University English Department certificate, Benazir passed his master's degree in 1984 with 229 out of 500 marks (about 46 percent) with second class. That means he did not get 50 percent marks. In the admission application, he showed total marks of 400 instead of 500 in post graduation. That is, he tried to fulfill the admission requirements for the doctoral program by showing a low total in the examination.

Professor Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam said, 'Forty years ago, those who studied in the university used to get low marks. They are now holding high positions in various places. The same has happened in the case of Benazir.

He said, 'The issue of Benazir's low marks has gone to the academic council. He was given admission in the council. There was no irregularity here.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof. ASM Maqsud Kamal said about Benazir's issue, 'When the incident happened, he was not in charge of the Vice-Chancellor. So he doesn't know about it. Regarding eligibility in general, he said, Doctorate programs have certain basic conditions, including minimum marks and graduation requirement, which cannot be relaxed.

ACC lawyer Khursid Alam Khan said, 'Benazir Ahmed is now being investigated for money laundering and making assets by unknown income.' However, the issue of doctorate degree may also come up in the inquiry report of the commission if information is found. If the commission accepts the report, it will be included in the statement.