Prof Maksud Kamal, of the disaster science and management department of Dhaka University, has been appointed the new pro vice-chancellor (education) of the institution.
A gazette notification, signed by Nilima Afroz, senior assistant secretary, was issued by the Ministry of Education in this regard on Thursday.
According to Article 13 (1) of the Dhaka University Order 1973, the Chancellor of the university, President Abdul Hamid, appointed Prof Kamal to the post for the next four years following the completion of the tenure of outgoing pro VC Nasreen Ahmad, the notification added.
Prof Maksud Kamal has served as founding chairman of the university’s disaster science and management department.
He has been performing his duties as the elected dean of the faculty of earth and environmental sciences for the last four terms.
Maksud Kamal has also served as provost of Masterda Surya Sen Hall, and is currently president of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association.
Hailing from Laxmipur district, Prof Maksud Kamal is also president of the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association.
He joined the university as a lecturer in the geology department in 2000.
Maksud Kamal has been a member of the ruling Awami League’s social welfare and relief affairs sub-committee.
He is the younger brother of former minister and Awami League MP from Laxmipur 3 constituency AKM Shahjahan Kamal.
Dr Maksud Kamal obtained his PhD in engineering geology from Tokyo Institute of Technology.
Since then he has remained intensively engaged with classroom teaching and academic research, developing expertise in multiple sectors through consultation and professional work.
He has worked as an urban risk reduction specialist and earthquake and tsunami preparedness expert at the UNDP and Comprehensive Disaster Management Program (CDMP), initiated by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
Kamal is also a member of the national committee on earthquake awareness and preparedness expert group and Saarc Disaster Management Council.
He has also worked as a scientific officer at Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organizations (SPARRSO).
At present, Dr Kamal is president of the Bangladesh Society of Geoinformatics and General Secretary of the Geological Society of Bangladesh.
He is also a UGC-nominated syndicate member of the privately-run Manarat International University.
