Allegations of financial irregularity have been raised against Mamun Mia, assistant professor in the department of statistics at Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU). He is accused of drawing a travel bill for a study tour with students that he did not take part in, and of drawing honorariums for external members of an OBE (outcome-based education) curriculum meeting who were absent by showing them as present online.
Mamun Mia took six days of duty leave from February 20 to 25 last year to travel to and from St Martin’s Island on the final tour with students of the 2019-20 academic year. It is alleged that although he did not take part in the study tour, he drew a travel bill of 17,319 taka from the university. He was then serving as chairman of the statistics department.
It is alleged that Mamun Mia recorded the drawing of the bill without joining the tour in various documents as a decision of the academic committee meeting. When the matter later drew discussion and criticism, it is further alleged that he returned the money he had drawn without following the university’s proper procedure.
According to documents seen by this correspondent, on February 10 this year Mamun Mia wrote to the university’s director of accounts (in charge) stating that he was returning the 17,319 taka travel bill to the university fund. In the application he said he had been unable to take part in the study tour because of illness.
He further stated in the application that he had submitted the bill as a travel allowance in line with a decision of the department’s academic committee taken on March 5, 2025. His claim was that the meeting had decided he would submit the bill even though he did not join the tour, and that the money would be adjusted with the teachers who did take part. He also said in the application that he had returned the money in the interest of transparency and accountability. The application was forwarded by the current chairman of the statistics department, Dr Nazma Begum.
But speaking to most of the members present at the academic committee meeting of March 5, 2025, it emerged that no such decision was taken at that meeting. Their account was that an opinion had been given that, since Mamun Mia did not take part in the study tour, it would not be proper to issue a study-tour bill in his name. They said no final decision was taken on the matter afterwards either.
On forwarding Mamun Mia’s refund application to the director of accounts, Dr Nazma Begum said she had forwarded a letter about his returning the money. She said, however, that she had not forwarded any letter mentioning the drawing of a bill without going on the tour and the adjustment of that money among other teachers. A three-member committee is already at work investigating the allegation against Mamun Mia.
There is also an allegation of financial irregularity against him over the OBE curriculum meeting held on July 10, 2024. The allegation is that although two external members were not present at the meeting, honorariums were drawn by showing them as present online. According to the student representative, the teacher representative and the single external member who was present, no external member joined online that day.
A woman officer then in the statistics department is also understood to have made a written complaint to the registrar against Mamun Mia on October 15, 2025 over offensive remarks. Asked about the allegations, assistant professor Mamun Mia said: “I will not give any opinion on this matter.” He told this correspondent to contact the investigation committee.
The convener of the investigation committee, Professor Dr Mohammad Mohinuzzaman, said the investigation was under way. He said, however, that he was not aware of the allegation of financial irregularity over the OBE curriculum meeting.
The university’s registrar (in charge), Mohammad Tamzid Hossain Chowdhury, said the next steps would be taken in the light of the investigation report.