Zafar Iqbal, Hasina Khan admit to textbook plagiarism

Staff Reporter :
A gross allegation has surfaced against the secondary textbook writers pertaining to the copycat of some texts from a foreign website ‘National Geographic Educational Site’ used for a book of Class-VII.
However, the writers have admitted of the allegation, saying it would be amended in the next edition of the science book ‘Investigative Study’ for class VII.
In a joint statement issued on Monday, Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal and Dr Haseena Khan said, “We have received an allegation that some of the portions of the book have been copied from National Geographic Educational Site. We compared the portions and found the allegation true,” the statement read.
“A number of writers are engaged in writing a book. The book is published with the efforts of their labaour and sincerity. Such responsibilities are expected from these writers for writing national textbooks. It become a reason for disappointment and upset for the whole team when such allegation is proved,” it said.
“Though we were not engaged in writing the particular portion of the book, its responsibility falls on us as editor of the book. We are admitting it. The book will be revised in the next edition,” the statement said.
Apart from this, they also said that they would accept any kind of logical opinions and the book will be amended or altered.
As par the book, it has been written by Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Dr Haseena Khan, Dr Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Khan, Dr Mustak Ibn Ayub and Rony Basak and edited by Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal.
The first chapter of the book is about ‘biodiversity’. From definition of ‘Biodiversity’ to other parts of the chapter has been copied from the site. These portions have been translated into Bengali version, while the English version of the book contains almost same wordings.