Published: 10:01 AM, 13 August 2026
BSPUA seeks stronger research ethics framework
Bangladesh Society for Private University Academics (BSPUA) organized a webinar on “Research Integrity and Article Retractions” on Tuesday via Zoom. Around 200 faculty members and researchers joined the program.
The webinar discussed research ethics, article retractions, responsible publishing and the roles of researchers, universities, regulators, journals and publishers.
Prof. Dr. Syed Saad Andaleeb, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Penn State University, USA, and former Vice-Chancellor of BRAC University, delivered the keynote address. The panel speakers were Prof. Dr. M. Tamim, Vice-Chancellor, Independent University, Bangladesh; Prof. Dr. Farid A. Sobhani, Vice-Chancellor, Eastern University and President, BSPUA and Prof. Dr. Syed Akhter Hossain, Dean, Faculty of Computer Science and Digital Innovation, UCSI University Bangladesh. Prof. Dr. Md. Mamun Habib, Head, Department of Management, SBE, Independent University Bangladesh, moderated the webinar. The speakers said that article retraction does not always mean research misconduct. An article may be retracted because of misconduct. But it may also happen because of honest errors, methodological problems, authorship issues, or weaknesses in editorial and peer-review processes. Therefore, each case should be examined carefully and fairly.
Referring to recent media reports on article retractions in Bangladesh, the speakers called for responsible and balanced reporting. Retraction numbers alone should not be used to judge researchers, universities, or the country. At the same time, the recent discussion should be taken as a wake-up call to improve research integrity and publication practices.
The speakers also stressed that research integrity is a shared responsibility. Researchers must follow ethical standards from the beginning of their research. Universities, reviewers, editors, publishers, the University Grants Commission (UGC), and the Ministry of Education also have important responsibilities. They should work together to ensure quality, transparency, accountability and fair investigation.
The discussants called for a strong national framework for research integrity. Universities should have effective research ethics and integrity committees. Researchers should receive regular training. Clear guidance should be provided on credible and predatory journals. Peer-review systems should also be strengthened. The speakers further emphasized that research should be judged by its quality, relevance, integrity, and impact on society, rather than simply by the number of publications.
The webinar ended with three key messages: retraction does not always mean misconduct; correction and retraction are part of the self-correcting process of science and research integrity requires shared responsibility across the whole research ecosystem.
BSPUA reaffirmed its commitment to promoting ethical, responsible, high-quality and socially relevant research in Bangladesh.
