Hossain Uddin Shekhar Appointed First VC of Shariatpur Agricultural University

Professor Dr Hossain Uddin Shekhar, one of the 62 top researchers of the University of Dhaka (DU), has been appointed the first Vice-Chancellor of Shariatpur Agricultural University (SAU).

Professor Shekhar, a professor of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Dhaka, has received 2,917 citations for his research contributions. He earned his PhD from Tokyo Metropolitan University in Japan and subsequently completed postdoctoral research at the United Nations University in Tokyo.

The appointment was made with the approval of the President and Chancellor. The Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education issued a notification in this regard on September 8.

According to the notification, Professor Dr Hossain Uddin Shekhar has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of Shariatpur Agricultural University under Section 19(1) of the Shariatpur Agricultural University Act, 2020 (amended in 2025).

Professor Shekhar was among the 62 DU professors recently honoured by the university in recognition of their outstanding contributions to research.

With his appointment, Shariatpur Agricultural University has received its first Vice-Chancellor since its establishment. Professor Shekhar will therefore be responsible for leading the university in developing its academic, research and administrative activities and establishing its institutional framework.

Under the terms of his appointment, Professor Shekhar will serve as Vice-Chancellor for four years from the date of his joining, or until the date of his retirement, whichever occurs earlier. During his tenure, he will serve as the university’s chief executive officer and will be required to reside full-time on the university campus.

Professor Shekhar currently serves as president of the Voluntary Consumers Training and Awareness Society (VOCU) and secretary-general of the Bangladesh Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the professional organisation of biochemists and molecular biologists in Bangladesh. He is also the editor-in-chief of the scientific journal Bioresources Communications.

He is a member of the editorial boards of several international journals, including PLOS ONE, Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, BioMed Research International and Springer’s Discover Toxicology.

Professor Shekhar is also an active member of the Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

He has published more than 110 research papers in national and international journals. He is the author of the English-language book Functional Foods from Bangladesh. He also co-edited the Springer-published book Biotechnological Advances in Healthomics.

His research career, international academic experience and involvement in scientific publishing are expected to contribute to the development of Shariatpur Agricultural University as it begins its academic and research journey under its first Vice-Chancellor.