The University of Dhaka (DU) has temporarily suspended three teachers, including Professor Sadeka Halim, and relieved four others of all academic and administrative responsibilities over allegations of activities against the July Uprising, unprofessional conduct, and ethical misconduct, said a university statement.

The decision was taken at a Syndicate meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor A.B.M. Obaidul Islam on Tuesday, Director of Public Relations, Md. Rafiqul Islam said in a message sent to the media on Thursday.

The Syndicate also formed a committee, headed by Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Dr. Abdus Salam, to review alleged irregularities in faculty recruitment between January 1, 2009, and June 2024, and assess the transparency of the recruitment process.

A separate committee, led by Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane, will investigate whether research funds provided under the World Bank- and University Grants Commission-funded Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) were properly utilised during the same period.

According to the university, Professor Sadeka Halim of the Department of Sociology was temporarily suspended over allegations of conduct unlike of a teacher, both inside and outside the classroom, ethical misconduct, and other complaints.

Sadeka, a former dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, was appointed to the Advisory Council of the now banned Bangladesh Awami League in 2022.

The Syndicate also temporarily suspended Professor Md. Shafiqul Islam and Professor Afroza Shelly of the Department of Nuclear Engineering.

Meanwhile, Professor Md. Abdul Muhit of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Professor Abu Sara Shamsur Rouf of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Professor Md. Rafiqul Islam (Rafiq Shahriar) of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, and Professor Mohammad Bahauddin of the Department of Persian Language and Literature were relieved of all academic and administrative responsibilities.

At the same meeting, the university formed a fact-finding committee, headed by Vice-Chancellor Professor A.B.M. Obaidul Islam, to examine a proposed ban on the political activities of teachers affiliated with the Awami League-backed Blue Panel, as reported by Daily Waadaa on Wednesday.