The government has installed professors from unrelated disciplines as vice-chancellors (VC) at three of Bangladesh’s science and technology universities, a move analysts say is “contradictory” to the law.
Although the founding legislation for these universities mandates that the VC's post go to "an academic renowned in the field of science and technology”, that regulation has not been observed.
One technology university now has an al-Hadith scholar at its helm. Another is led by a professor of marketing.
A third science and technology university has a professor of social welfare in its top post.
Sunamgonj Science And Technology University
Md Zakir Hossain, a professor of al-Hadith and Islamic Studies at the Islamic University in Kushtia, joined as VC of Sunamgonj Science and Technology University on Jul 29.
Section 10 of the Sunamgonj Science and Technology University Act, 2020 governs the appointment of VCs.
Sub-section 2 of that section says the chancellor (the president) shall appoint an academic renowned in the field of science and technology as VC for four years, on terms determined by the chancellor, and that no individual shall be eligible to hold the post for more than two consecutive terms or otherwise.
A separate sub-section states that, notwithstanding Sub-section 1, the VC shall hold office at the chancellor's pleasure.
Asked about this, Zakir said: "Whatever the university law says about appointing a vice-chancellor, whoever the president, as chancellor, agrees to entrust with the post will receive that responsibility."
When the specific provision on VC appointment under the University Act was pointed out to him, he said: "I did not appoint myself vice-chancellor. Ask those who gave me this responsibility.
“I believe those who appointed me reviewed the law and regulations before doing so."
Mawlana Bhashani Science And Technology University
ABM Shahidul Islam, a professor in Dhaka University's marketing department, took charge as VC of Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University on May 16.
The notification cited Section 10(1) of the Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University Act as the basis for his appointment.
However, under that section, a marketing professor is not eligible for the post.
The section says the chancellor shall, on terms determined by the chancellor, appoint an individual who is a specialist in the field of science and technology as VC for four years.
Repeated attempts to reach VC Shahidul by phone for comment went unanswered.
Noakhali Science And Technology University
Golam Rabbani, a professor at Dhaka University's Institute of Social Welfare and Research (ISWR), is serving as VC of Noakhali Science and Technology University.
The notification states he was appointed under the Noakhali Science and Technology University Act.
Under the law, this professor of social welfare and research, however, is not eligible for the post, since the university's legislation likewise requires a specialist in science and technology to hold the position.
Asked about this, Prof Rabbani said: "The chancellor can appoint whomever he wishes as vice-chancellor."
When it was pointed out that the notification cited Section 10(1) specifically, he said: "I am a professor of social science. That has 'science' in it too."
Search Committee Inactive
Following the July Uprising, the education ministry formed a search committee on May 18, 2025 to recommend candidates for VC, pro-VC and treasurer posts at public universities.
The committee, however, has been largely inactive since the BNP-led government took office.
The education advisor, as head of the ministry at the time, presided over the committee, with members including the then University Grants Commission (UGC) members Prof Md Tanzimuddin Khan and Prof Md Saidur Rahman, the then Rajshahi University VC Prof Saleh Hasan Naqib, and BRAC University Prof Firdous Azim.
The committee was tasked with recommending three candidates for each appointment to the president, while the University Wing of the Secondary and Higher Education Division was assigned to provide secretarial support.
Asked about the appointments, Additional Secretary Md Mahbubul Hoque Patwary of the University Wing declined to comment.
"We process the names we receive for vice chancellor appointments. That's all," he told bdnews24.com.
Asked whether the search committee was still recommending candidates, he said the committee still existed, but names were also proposed by the ministry's policy-making level, which the division then processed.
A committee member said it had become largely inactive after the change in government.
Attempts to reach Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon for comment on the matter were unsuccessful.
Govt ‘Off Track’ in Higher Education
Former UGC member Prof Tanzimuddin, who also served on the search committee, described the appointments as being "in conflict with the law".
The professor of international relations at the University of Dhaka stepped down from the UGC on Apr 23.
"It is ridiculous. It shows that those who made the appointment are not aware of the universities’ own laws," he said.
"A technology university should be led by an academic from the science and technology field. As far as I know, that is what the law requires. Leading such an institution demands research, training and expertise in science and engineering, which people from other disciplines would not normally possess."
He said the appointments also showed the government was failing to match its own commitments on higher education.
"It suggests the government is moving in the opposite direction from its stated goal of restoring discipline and accountability in higher education institutions. Had it remained true to its own commitments, we would not have seen appointments like these."
