Thousands of students rallied outside parliament holding banners reading "no to private universities"
The education ministry issued a circular announcing Professor Mannan’s appointment for four years on Wednesday.
He is replacing Professor AK Azad Chowdhury whose term will end on Thursday.
Professor Mannan told bdnews24.com he would join the state minister-level post after Professor Chowdhury’s farewell at 3pm on Thursday.
The ex-Chittagong University VC joined the management department after getting his Master’s degree from Dhaka University in 1972.
He was the VC of Chittagong University from November 1996 to February 2001.