Published : 10 Feb 2026, 11:16 PM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 03:08 PM
Two days ahead of the parliamentary election, Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan says he wants to “step down” from the post of vice-chancellor at Dhaka University.
He is, however, willing to stay on in the post for a few more days in order to ensure continuity “if the government wants”, he says.
On Tuesday, Prof Niaz said: “I now feel that, over the course of discharging this responsibility, we have reached a reasonably good stage, and I want to step aside.”
Following the fall of the Awami League government in the student-led 2024 mass uprising, changes also came to the post of vice-chancellor at Dhaka University amid a broader wave of transition.
On Aug 27 that year, Prof Niaz of the Department of Development Studies took charge as VC.
Recalling the circumstances, he said: “We assumed responsibility in late August 2024, during a transitional period and under very special circumstances.
“It was an emergency, when the university was virtually paralysed, academic activities were suspended, the halls were in a state of flux, and the administrative structure had become ineffective.
“In that situation, our first task, together with all of you, was to restart academic activities and bring the university to a stable phase. Today, nearly one and a half years later, together with you all, we are in a reasonably good position.”
Explaining his wish to step aside, the VC said: “At this moment, there must be no vacuum, no disruption to continuity.
“The university needs a smooth transition. If the government thinks, if stakeholders think that some more time is needed so that there is no sudden vacuum on the question of continuity, I am willing to consider that.
“But like the rest of the country, we are eagerly waiting for a regular political government to take charge, and we will extend our full cooperation.”
Asked whether he would remain in office if the new government wants him to stay after the election, Prof Niaz said: “This is a very complex question. I am extremely exhausted. At the moment, I need a little rest.”
On the resignation process, he said: “I will write to my honourable chancellor. I am currently on deputation. After that, I will seek release from deputation and return to my original work as a professor of development studies.
“If there is any other responsibility later, or if Allah gives me another opportunity, I will think about it then. For now, there has been a long period of hard work.”
At the press conference, he also highlighted several “notable achievements” during his tenure as VC.
“Democratic processes have been restored at Dhaka University. The biggest example is that DUCSU is now functional.
“Students’ rights have been largely established. It is no longer possible for anyone to completely reverse this or entirely ignore it.
“Secondly, despite so many constraints, Times Higher Education has recorded 200 percent progress for us. The number of foreign students has increased by 160 percent.”
He also expressed hope that the ongoing Dhaka University project worth Tk 28.41 billion would help ease the accommodation crisis.
