A five-member selection committee selected the three persons for the posts against two advertised posts while all of the three candidates obtained degrees simultaneously from the university and Madrasa Board, which is, according to the university ordinance, illegal.

The selection committee headed by Pro-Vice Chancellor (Pro-VC) Prof AFM Yusuf Haider at a meeting on Sunday night selected the three persons for three lecturer posts from 30 candidates.

The three persons recommended for lecturer posts -- Noor-e Alam (MA in 2002), Rafiqul Islam (MA in 2003) and Tazul Islam (MA in 2002) -- obtained Fazil degrees from the Madrasa Board while doing their honours from the DU, sources at the department said.

The same meeting of the selection committee also recommended for promotion of two lecturers of the department, Ruhul Amin and Mizanur Rahman, who had their degrees studying simultaneously at the university and under the Madrasa Board, sources said.

Several teachers of the department expressed dissatisfaction at the move to give such illegal appointment.

Subject expert of the selection committee Prof Dr Md Abubakar Siddique of the Arabic department issued a 'note of dissent' against the committee's decision mentioning the selected candidates' simultaneous degrees.

According to the university ordinance, if any honours student studies at any other institution simultaneously, his or her university admission/degree is to be cancelled.

The selection committee's recommendations are now waiting to be finalised in the next Syndicate meeting later this week.

The selection committee excluded two candidates who obtained first-class first positions in both honours and masters. They are -- Arshadul Hasan (MA in 2004) and Zahirul Islam (MA in 2003). They received University Grants Commission Gold Medal in 2006 and 2005 respectively for achieving highest marks in the faculty.

On the other hand, among the selected candidates, Noor-e Alam and Rafiqul Islam have one 'first-class second' position each.

Prof Siddique said he sent documents on selected candidates' simultaneous degrees to the chief of the selection committee, which will be placed before the university Syndicate.

Prof Yusuf Haider said the committee selected the candidates with better qualifications on the basis of available data and there was no scope for anomalies.

He said a member of the committee presented papers of simultaneous degrees of the three selected candidates while two other members presented papers on cancellation of their simultaneous degrees.

"I have sent all the papers -- against or in favour of the selected candidates' simultaneous degrees -- for the Syndicate's decision. Now it is up to them to take action," Prof Haider added.

He ruled out the allegation of politically affiliated persons' selection, saying, "That's all rubbish".

Former president of Dhaka University Teachers' Association Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said obtaining simultaneous degrees is a punishable offence.

"We are concerned that the authorities are going to appoint as teachers the persons who committed the offence, violating university rules. The authorities should cancel the selection and punish the offenders."