Prof ABM Obaidul Islam appointed new DU VC

The government has appointed Professor Dr. ABM Obaidul Islam as the new Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Dhaka University (DU), bringing a change in the leadership of the country’s premier public university following the recent resignation of the previous VC.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon confirmed the appointment on Monday at Ministry of Education’s conference room.

Professor Obaidul Islam is presently leading Bangladesh Open University (BOU). Before that, he spent many years teaching in Physics Department at Dhaka University. 

With his new appointment, he is expected to return to his home institution to assume the university’s top administrative role.

His move to Dhaka University may also lead to changes in the leadership of Bangladesh Open University. 

Sources suggest that Professor Dr. Siddiqur Rahman Khan, the current Dean of Faculty of Arts at Dhaka University, could be appointed as the next Vice-Chancellor of BOU.

Earlier, the former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan, formally resigned from his position on February 22. 

He submitted his resignation letter to the education minister, citing personal and administrative reasons for stepping down.

At the time of submitting his resignation, he stated that the university had overcome its recent emergency situation and academic activities had returned to a normal pace. Therefore, he believed it was an appropriate time to step aside.

Before resigning, Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan said at a press conference, “The overall activities of the university are now showing an upward trend. I want to step down so that the political government can reorganize the administration according to its plans. However, it is important that no vacuum is created and that the continuity of operations is maintained.”

He also requested the government to release him quickly from deputation so that he could return to teaching in his department.

SH