RETRACTION: Optimization of conditions for the biological treatment of textile dyes using isolated soil bacteria

The article titled “Optimization of conditions for the biological treatment of textile dyes using isolated soil bacteria” ([version 1; referees: peer review discontinued]. F1000Research 2018, 7:351 https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.13757.1) by Shafkat Shamim Rahman and colleagues, has been retracted by F1000Research on grounds of misconduct by the first author. Following publication of the article, the editorial team at F1000Research were notified by Romana Siddique, from BRAC University, that the data presented in this paper significantly overlaps with the data in her recently published article : Siddique and Alif; ARRB, 22(5): 1-12, 2018; Article no.ARRB.38637; https://doi.org/10.9734/ARRB/2018/38637. 

In response to our queries to the authors, the second and last author listed on this article, Fahim Ahmed Alif and M. Mahboob Hossain, have stated that they were not aware of the submission of this article to F1000Research, and did not agree to be authors. We have evidence which confirms their statement. 

After further investigation by the F1000Research team, and a separate investigation by BRAC University, it has become clear that Shafkat Shamim Rahman was not involved with the research presented in this paper, and that the decision to submit and publish the article was taken independently by him, and not his listed co-authors. BRAC University has confirmed that Shafkat Shamim Rahman is not currently based at their institution.