Despite being initially selected for recruitment at the University of Chittagong’s (CU) Department of Drama and Dramatics, two candidates were disqualified at the last moment after testing positive for cannabis in a dope test.
The university administration suspended their appointments following the findings.
The two candidates who failed the drug test are Golam Rabbani and Dr. Imrul Asad. They had successfully passed the written, presentation, and oral examinations for the lecturer position in the drama department. However, when they underwent the dope test at the university medical center on Monday (August 4), their reports confirmed the presence of cannabis-related substances.
The university’s Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mohammad Abu Tayeb, confirmed the matter, saying , “We detected the presence of cannabis in the test results. The reports clearly showed positive outcomes.”
Sources from the university revealed that the written, presentation, and oral examinations for the drama department’s teacher recruitment were held on July 28. The dope test was conducted as part of the final recruitment process.
The incident has sparked discussions and criticism among university officials. Students have also expressed strong disapproval. Ashik Islam, a third-year student from the Bangladesh Studies Department, said, “Education is the backbone of the nation, and teachers are the architects of that backbone. If they are drug addicts, how can they contribute to nation-building? Moreover, I doubt they can help establish a quality education system.”
Regarding the issue, CU’s Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Dr. Mohammad Shameem Uddin Khan, stated, “At Chittagong University, dope tests are mandatory for the recruitment of teachers, officers, staff, and even students. Those who test positive will not be appointed. This upholds the university’s reputation and moral values.”
When asked whether the final appointments would proceed, Acting Registrar Saiful Islam said, “Our students are also subject to dope tests, how can we appoint such candidates as teachers? If the test results are positive, there is no chance of recruitment at the university.”