Mamun Ahmed named UGC chair, Obaidul Islam new Dhaka University VC

The government has appointed new vice-chancellors (VCs) to seven public universities and named a new chairman for the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon announced the appointments during a media briefing at the Ministry of Education on Monday.

Prof Mamun Ahmed has been named chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

His appointment followed the resignation of Prof SMA Faiz, who stepped down on Monday, citing "physical illness".

Prof ABM Obaidul Islam, who has been leading the BOU, has been appointed as the new VC of DU. He teaches physics at DU.

Obaidul held the positions of general secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA) and convenor of the White Panel, the pro-BNP teachers' alliance at the university.

DU Pro-VC Prof Mamun Ahmed will transition to the top regulatory role in higher education as the UGC chairman.

Prof Rais Uddin has been appointed as the VC of JnU, while Prof Siddiqur Rahman Khan will lead BOU, filling the vacancy created by Professor Obaidul’s move to DU.

The education minister also named Prof Md Faridul Islam as the vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University and Prof Mohammad Al-Forkan to lead Chittagong University.

Prof Mohammad Mashud has been tasked with heading the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), while Prof Nurul Islam, currently the pro-VC of National University, will take charge as the VC of Dhaka Central University.

Responding to queries about whether the appointments were politically motivated, the minister said: "Is it a crime for a person to be involved in politics? Is it a disqualification? It is not a disqualification."

He maintained that the appointments present "most capable" teachers.

UGC

Mamun succeeded Prof Faiz, a former DU VC, who had been appointed by the interim administration in September 2024.

Mamun is a member of the BNP chairperson's Advisory Council and president of the Jatiotabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (JASAS).

A resident of Lakshmipur, he joined DU’s Biochemistry and Microbiology department in 1996 after completing his PhD in molecular virology from Nihon University. He has previously served as the general secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA).

New VC at Dhaka University

Obaidul succeeded Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan.

Niaz, who took charge after the July Uprising, resigned following the BNP’s formation of government but remained in office until his successor was named.

Obaidul earned his PhD from Toyama University in Japan. He currently serves as the education affairs secretary of the BNP and president of the University Teachers Association of Bangladesh (UTAB).

He previously held roles as the DUTA general secretary and convenor of the pro-BNP White Panel.

He had recently been serving as the VC of BOU since September 2024.

Jagannath University

Rais, who teaches Islamic studies at the university, has been named as its eighth VC. He is only the second faculty member from within the university to hold the top post.

Rais, the president of the JnU Teachers' Association and a former leader of the White Panel, replaces Prof Md Rezaul Karim.

Rezaul had been appointed by the interim government in September 2024, replacing the VC appointed by the Awami League, Prof Sadeka Halim.

The change comes within a month of the BNP government taking office.

Chittagong University

Forkan is the founding chairman of the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology department.

He succeeds Prof Muhammad Yeahia Akhter, who was appointed by the interim government in September 2024.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, Forkan said: "I have learnt from news reports that I have been nominated as the VC. This is a new responsibility for me, though I am yet to receive the official notification."

Forkan is the senior vice-president of the Nationalist Teachers' Forum at the university.

Hailing from Madanhat in Chattogram’s Hathazari Upazila, he joined the university as a lecturer in January 1993 after completing his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Botany at CU.

He earned his PhD from the University of Nottingham in the UK, specialising in the genetic engineering of Indica rice.

He later conducted postdoctoral research on improving the quality of oilseeds at the University of Alberta and the Agricultural Research Council in Canada.