Retraction does not always mean research misconduct: BSPUA Webinar

The webinar, titled “Research Integrity and Article Retractions,” was held via Zoom on Tuesday, with around 200 faculty members and researchers participating. 

The discussion focused on research ethics, article retractions, responsible publishing, and the roles of researchers, universities, regulators, journals and publishers in maintaining research integrity.

Prof Dr Syed Saad Andaleeb, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Penn State University, USA, and former Vice-Chancellor of BRAC University, delivered the keynote address. The panel featured Prof Dr M Tamim, Vice-Chancellor of Independent University, Bangladesh; Prof Dr Farid A Sobhani, Vice-Chancellor of Eastern University and President of BSPUA; and Prof Dr Syed Akhter Hossain, Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science and Digital Innovation at UCSI University Bangladesh. Prof Dr Md Mamun Habib, Head of the Department of Management at the School of Business and Entrepreneurship of Independent University Bangladesh, moderated the session.

The speakers said an article can be retracted because of research misconduct, but retractions may also result from honest errors, methodological problems, authorship issues, or weaknesses in editorial and peer-review processes. Therefore, they stressed that each retraction case should be examined carefully and fairly rather than automatically being treated as evidence of misconduct.

Referring to recent media reports on article retractions in Bangladesh, the speakers urged the media to ensure responsible and balanced reporting. They said the number of retractions alone should not be used to assess researchers, universities or the country's research sector. At the same time, they described the recent discussion as a wake-up call to improve research integrity and publication practices.

The speakers said research integrity is a shared responsibility involving researchers, universities, reviewers, editors, publishers, the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Education. Researchers should follow ethical standards from the outset, while relevant institutions should work together to ensure quality, transparency, accountability and fair investigation.

The discussants called for a strong national framework on research integrity and effective research ethics and integrity committees at universities. They also recommended regular training for researchers, clear guidance on credible and predatory journals, and stronger peer-review systems.

They further emphasised that research should be assessed based on its quality, relevance, integrity and impact on society, rather than simply on the number of publications.

The webinar concluded with three key messages: retraction does not always mean misconduct; correction and retraction are part of science's self-correcting process; and research integrity requires shared responsibility across the entire research ecosystem.

BSPUA reaffirmed its commitment to promoting ethical, responsible, high-quality and socially relevant research in Bangladesh.