icddr,b leads the dialogue on how to avoid publishing articles in predatory journals

Md. Shafiur Rahman, Sr. Library Officer, icddr,b, Dhaka

3 November 2018

icddr,b’s Library and Information Services Section organised a discussion on “Open Access and Predatory Publishers” with 26 faculty members and librarians from different eminent public, private, international universities, research organization, and government organizations of the country to raise awareness on how to avoid publishing research articles in predatory journals and why it matters. The discussion was held on 01 November 2018 at the cyber corner of icddr,b Library.

The professionals from various renowned organizations such as University of Dhaka, University of Rajshahi, National University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Library, Islamic University of Technology (IUT), Jahangir Nagar University, East West University, North South University, BRAC University, BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology, CIRDAP, Independent University, Bangladesh, BARC, NHLDC, Prime Minister’s Office, Bangladesh Army Library, and Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, etc.

The program was inaugurated by the kind presence of Catherine Spencer, Director of Communications and Change Management, icddr,b. In the discussion, Dr M Nazim Uddin, Senior Manager and Head of icddr,b Library demonstrated a presentation on how to identify journals that are legitimate and credible. This includes but is not limited to specificity, review and citation, impact factor, whether the publisher is a member of recognised professional organisations that commit to best practices in publishing, whether it is indexed, and finally whether it is following standard editorial and peer review processes and has transparent governance and ownership. He said that authors, i.e. researchers and scientists, should also be sceptical of unknown journals.

However, at the end of the presentation, there was an interactive discussion session. Professor ASB Tariq, Professor Nasir Uddin Mitul, Dr Dilara Begum, Ms Hasina Afroz, Mr Hossam Haider, Mr MM Shoeb, Dr Rezaul Islam, Mr Fahmid, Dr Susmita Das, Mr Monirul Islam Konok, took part in the discussion of predatory journals. In the concluding remarks, Professor SM Zabed Ahmed, Professor, Department of Information Science & Library Management University of Dhaka proposed to develop a Bangladesh Citation Center and create the possible list for Predatory publishers and Journals. At the end of the session, the participants addressed that the librarians should play a proactive role for creating the awareness among researchers and faculties of the respective organization in order to avoid publishing articles in predatory journals.