Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) has suspended Sohel Rana, an assistant director in the Physical Education Department, following an internal inquiry that revealed he used forged academic certificates to obtain his job.

Prof Dr Md Ferdous Rahman, the university registrar (additional charge), confirmed the disciplinary action, stating that an official verification process exposed the invalidity of the credentials submitted by Rana.

"Necessary action will also be taken against others accused of using fake certificates. The university administration is working on the matter," he said.

Internal university sources revealed that when applying for his position, Rana provided documentation claiming to have earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree from the Royal University of Dhaka.

Seeking confirmation, the BRUR administration formally contacted the Royal University of Dhaka to cross-check the authenticity of the records.

In its official response, the Royal University of Dhaka informed BRUR that it had never issued any undergraduate or postgraduate certificates under Sohel Rana's name.

Addressing the broader scope of the investigation, BRUR Vice-Chancellor Dr Shawkat Ali noted that inquiries are currently active regarding several other faculty members as well.