Former UGC chairman Shahidullah dies at 72

SMA Faiz, the current UGC chairman, says he was an academician with a clean image

Prof Kazi Shahidullah, former chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), has died at the age of 72 while undergoing treatment for cancer in Australia.

Syed Muhammed Abul Faiz, the present chairman of the commission, lamented the passing of Shahidullah, who he said was “an academician with a clean image”.

“His death is an irreparable loss for us,” Faiz said after Shahidullah’s death on Wednesday.

“The commission is deeply saddened and expresses its condolences to his family members. The UGC is preparing to issue a formal message expressing its condolences."

Shahidullah was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2022.

He had been undergoing treatment in Australia since 2023.

He resigned from his post as UGC chairman, citing his illness, shortly after the Awami League government was toppled on Aug 5, 2024.

On May 26, 2019, Shahidullah was appointed as the 13th chairman of the UGC.

His tenure was extended for a second term in May 2024.

Before leading the commission, he served as vice-chancellor of the National University of Bangladesh and also taught at Dhaka University, where he began his career as a lecturer in history.

Over the years, he rose through the ranks, becoming the head of the history department, the dean of the faculty of arts, and a member of both the senate and the syndicate at Dhaka University.