Professor Dr ABM Obaidul Islam of the Physics Department is set to become the new vice-chancellor of the University of Dhaka.
The announcement was made by Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon at a press conference held at the Ministry of Education on Monday.
This comes after the incumbent VC Dr Niaz Ahmad Khan submitted a resignation letter to the president on February 22, requesting to be relieved of his duties.
Who is the new DU VC?
Professor Dr ABM Obaidul Islam is a physicist in the DU Physics Department, currently serving as vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Open University (BOU).
Professor ABM Obaidul Islam currently also serves as president of the University Teachers Association of Bangladesh (UTAB) and as BNP's education affairs secretary.
The newly appointed vice-chancellor, ABM Obaidul Islam, previously served as general secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers' Association and as convener of Shada Dal, the platform representing BNP-aligned faculty members.
There was also speculation that he could receive a BNP nomination for the Bagerhat-4 constituency in the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum.
After completing his undergraduate degree in 1987 and postgraduate studies in 1988 from Dhaka University's Physics Department, Obaidul Islam joined the same institution as a faculty member. He went on to earn his PhD from the University of Toyama in Japan in 1999.
Following the fall of the Awami League government in the mass uprising, Professor Obaidul Islam was appointed vice-chancellor of the Bangladesh Open University on September 12, 2024.
Dr ABM Obaidul Islam's son Rafiul Islam Ratul, on August 20 of 2024, wrote on Facebook: "I've heard that Dr ABM Obaidul Islam, a professor from the Physics Department, is being appointed as the new vice-chancellor of Dhaka University."
"When the demand is as straightforward as 'we want a politics-free campus,' appointing someone who is a blind devotee of the Zia family, who has abandoned research in favour of politics, and who is one of the most active figures in BNP's mainstream political circles — as vice-chancellor — is an extraordinarily poor decision," he added.
VCs appointed to six more universities
After the University of Dhaka, the government has appointed new vice-chancellors to six more universities, including the University of Rajshahi, the University of Chittagong, and Jagannath University.
Professor Md Faridul Islam has been appointed the new vice-chancellor of the University of Rajshahi. At Jagannath University, the new Vice-Chancellor will be Professor Rais Uddin, who currently serves as Chairman of the Department of Islamic Studies and president of the university’s Teachers’ Association.
In addition, Professor Siddiqur Rahman Khan has been appointed vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Open University.Professor Md Nurul Islam, the current pro-vice-chancellor of National University (Bangladesh), has been made vice-chancellor of Central University (Bangladesh).Professor Md Masud has been appointed vice-chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (Kuet), while Professor Md Al-Forkan has been given the responsibility as vice-chancellor of the University of Chittagong.
The education minister said that official gazette notifications regarding these appointments will be issued shortly.