Academic Md Zafar Iqbal and Professor Hasina Khan have expressed their disappointment over the plagiarised contents found in the new class 7 science textbook edited by themselves and admitted plagiarism charge.

The writers associated with editing the book also accepted their responsibility in a statement issued on Tuesday, reports UNB.   

In an article published in vernacular daily Prothom Alo, a complaint was raised over copying some sections of this book from the National Geographic educational site.

In a statement, they said, “Comparing this particular part of the book and the same text on the website, the allegation appears to us to be true. Although we are not responsible for writing that part of the chapter, we acknowledge that the responsibility lies with us as editors.”

Writing a textbook involves many authors whose hard work and dedication results in the publication of the book. In particular, a kind of responsibility is expected from these authors in the preparation of national textbooks, said the teachers.

They assured that necessary revisions of the book will certainly be made in the next edition.

An experimental version of the book has been published this year and there is room for considerable refinement and editing from the coming academic year, added the statement.

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul