22 DU-linked research papers retracted for plagiarism 

Dhaka University (DU) faces academic crisis after 22 research papers were retracted for reasons including plagiarism and ‘paper mill’ activity, prompting concerned response from administration. Retractions, identified via the global Retraction Watch database, span over a decade but showed a worrying surge in recent years, with some studies flagged as recently as 2026. Of 71,496 total records, 22 retracted papers have at least one author affiliated with DU.

Figures include one of world-class researchers from DU Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department Saikat Mitra. He and CEO of Research Learning Center Md Rezaul Islam have been linked to four retracted papers each, with journals like Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy and Chemosphere citing compromised peer reviews and unreliable results.

On Saturday, pro-VC (Academic) Prof Dr. Abdus Salam, defended the university’s integrity, insisting that ‘absolutely clear policies’ are in place to punish dishonesty.

However, the scale of the findings revealed a complex web of academic misconduct ranging from simple duplication to sophisticated computer-generated content.

Of the 22 retracted works, 6 listed DU as the sole or primary institution. These include a high-profile study on ‘Greenwashing’ in Bangladesh, retracted in February 2024 due to data concerns and suspected paper mill involvement, and a physics paper on Fe2O3 nanoparticles pulled in March 2026 for image duplication. Other sole-institution retractions involved blatant plagiarism in climate change and geology research.

 Pro-VC (Academic) vows action 

Investigation by The Daily Observer into DU’s research output has identified a specific group of academics linked to multiple retracted studies, suggesting a recurring pattern of misconduct. Leading the list are Saikat Mitra and Talha Bin Emran, both of whom are associated with four retracted papers each while maintaining affiliations with the university. 

They are closely followed by Fahad A Alhumaydhi, Fahadul Islam, and Md Rezaul Islam, each of whom has been named in three retracted publications. Additionally, a broader group of researchers, including Md Mohaimenul Islam, Aklima Akter, Atkia Farzana Khan Meem, Mohammad Abdul Mazid, Mohamed H Nafady, Ameer Khusro, Aziz Eftekhari, Fatemeh Karimi, and Mehdi Baghayeri, are each linked to two retracted papers. These authors frequently appear together in clusters, particularly in papers flagged for "paper mill" activity and compromised peer review, highlighting a network that has significantly impacted the institution's academic record.

Remaining 16 papers featured researchers from DU as co-authors, often alongside international collaborators. A significant cluster of these retractions, occurring between 2023 and 2026, points to a coordinated network of authors.

Prof. Salam revealed that the university’s top executive body syndicate is already taking action. “In our last syndicate meeting, one person was temporarily removed from classes for such matters”, he said. He confirmed that committees are routinely formed to investigate allegations, adding: “If dishonesty is proven, we do whatever our rules dictate”.