Professor Dr Mahmood Hossain, vice-chancellor of Khulna University, began preparing to step down on Sunday, following a wave of resignations by other vice-chancellors, including Dhaka University.
News of his impending resignation sparked strong reactions, especially from students active in the quota reform movement, who gathered at the vice-chancellor’s office, demanding he remain in his position.
However, on Tuesday, Professor Dr Mahmood Hossain officially resigned, citing personal reasons. His resignation has become a national talking point, as he is the only vice-chancellor who actively supported the quota reform movement and voluntarily stepped down.
During the protests, he famously barred law enforcement from entering the campus, declaring, “This is my campus. I will not allow any police on my campus because I am the administrator here.” This statement gained significant traction on social media.
Unlike other vice-chancellors, who resigned under student pressure amid accusations of prioritising political agendas over educational responsibilities, Professor Mahmood Hossain’s resignation was opposed by students.
Education experts have long criticised the political influence in the appointment of vice-chancellors at public universities in Bangladesh. They argue that many vice-chancellors, including former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ASM Maksud Kamal, were appointed in violation of The Dhaka University Order, 1973.
Allegations have surfaced that politically appointed vice-chancellors prioritised political agendas over student welfare, focusing on turning universities into political strongholds rather than centres of academic and research excellence.
This misalignment with educational priorities is reflected in the poor performance of Bangladeshi universities in global rankings. The Global Knowledge Index 2023 highlights these challenges, particularly in research, development, and innovation.
The report indicates that Bangladesh is a weak performer in terms of its knowledge infrastructure, ranking 112th out of 133 countries, and 21st among 25 nations with medium human development. Bangladesh scored 36 out of 100 on the Global Knowledge Index 2023, significantly below the global average of 47.5. In the research, development, and innovation sector, the country fared even worse, earning just 17.36 points. In higher education, Bangladesh achieved a score of 33.75 out of 100.
Professor Dr Siddiqur Rahman, former director of the Institute of Education and Research at Dhaka University, told The Business Post that many vice-chancellors have prioritised political allegiances over their responsibilities to students. He noted that these officials, tasked with safeguarding student interests, have instead favoured the previous government, neglecting their core duties.
“Many vice-chancellors were appointed by the Awami League government, leading to their perceived loyalty to the administration. For instance, the appointment of the Dhaka University vice-chancellor violated the Dhaka University Ordinance of 1973, raising concerns about the recruitment process,” he said.
Professor Dr Mohammad Ali Zinnah of the Institute of Education and Research at Dhaka University told The Business Post that the actions of the ousted government have left the education sector in disarray, creating a crisis that will take considerable time to resolve.
“A teacher’s primary focus should be on education and safeguarding students' rights, rather than engaging in political agendas. Unfortunately, many vice-chancellors have become politically driven figures, neglecting their educational responsibilities and the well-being of their students. This shift towards political agendas led to concerns about potential backlash, prompting their decisions to resign,” he said.
“It is common for vice-chancellors to resign at the end of a government term, but the current wave of mass resignations is unprecedented in the history of Bangladesh’s public universities. The majority of those resigning were politically motivated, revealing a significant erosion of integrity and a disregard for their core responsibilities,” he added.
Significant resignations
University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC): Professor Kazi Shahidullah, Chairman of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, stepped down on August 11, citing health-related reasons. His resignation appears to be part of a larger pattern, with reports suggesting that the contracts of other UGC members are also being terminated.
National University: Vice-Chancellor Professor Mashiur Rahman resigned on August 11, joining the growing number of university leaders who have recently left their posts, including Professor ASM Maksud Kamal from Dhaka University and Professor Md Nurul Alam from Jahangirnagar University.
Jagannath University: Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Sadeka Halim, along with several senior staff members, resigned amid increasing student unrest on August 11. The resignations included those of the university’s registrar, the entire proctorial team, and the provost of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, all of whom left their positions due to mounting student pressure.
Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU): Vice-Chancellor Emdadul Haque Chowdhury also resigned, attributing his decision to personal reasons. However, his resignation came after persistent student demands for his removal.
Comilla University: Vice-Chancellor Professor AFM Abdul Moyeen resigned on August 11, submitting his resignation to the president, citing personal reasons.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University (BSMRSTU): Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Professor AQM Mahbub and Professor Dr Syed Shamsul Alam, resigned from their posts on Tuesday.
Barishal University: Barishal University Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohammad Badruzzaman Bhuiyan, along with Proctor Abdul Kaiyum and 18 other officials, resigned following student protests on Tuesday. Among those who stepped down were the provosts of four halls, several house tutors, the Director of Physical Education, the Controller of Examinations, and the university librarian.
What lies ahead?
Under the banner of the Boishommo Birodhi Chhatra Andolon, students and faculty members from several universities, including those in Dhaka, have been staging protests, demanding the resignation of institutional heads. This has led to the resignation of numerous vice-chancellors, principals, and head teachers across the country.
Students have accused these leaders of obstructing the quota reform movement, which has sparked widespread calls for their removal. Many believe that these institutional heads have lost the moral authority to continue in their roles due to their actions during the protests.
Professor Dr Mohammad Ali Zinnah emphasised the need for universities to realign with their core mission of developing skilled and capable students who can contribute to the country’s progress.
He stressed that the current situation should serve as a lesson for future vice-chancellors and educators to ensure that campuses remain non-political and student-friendly.
Interim government education adviser Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud assured that the government would appoint new vice-chancellors gradually, prioritising candidates committed to advancing the education sector, though he noted the process would take time.
