Former DU VC SMA Faiz new UGC chairman

Syed Muhammad Abul Faiz, a former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, has been appointed as the new chairman of the University Grants Commission for a four-year term.

The Ministry of Education issued the appointment notification on Thursday (September 5), with approval from the relevant authorities, confirmed by Deputy Secretary Dr Md Farhad Hossain.

According to the notification, under the Bangladesh University Grants Commission Act of 1973, Professor SMA Faiz, former professor of Soil, Water, and Environment at Dhaka University, has been appointed as UGC chairman. He will serve under three conditions: a four-year tenure, a salary and benefits as per the existing rules, and his appointment becoming effective upon joining the post.

Professor Faiz, who retired from Dhaka University, was appointed as the 26th vice-chancellor of the university in 2002 during the BNP-led coalition government by then-president Iajuddin Ahmed. He served for six years as Vice-Chancellor.

Before this, D. Faiz also held the position of the sixth chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC) from March 7, 1993, to March 5, 1998.

The UGC oversees all public and private universities in Bangladesh. 

However, it has faced disruptions since the fall of the government. Former UGC chairman Professor Kazi Shahidullah, on long medical leave abroad, resigned on August 17. Professor Muhammad Alamgir, acting in an additional capacity, also resigned the next day. The Ministry of Education reissued his routine duties, but he did not return to work, leading to regular protests at the UGC demanding his resignation.

Other UGC members, including Professor Dr Biswajit Chand, Professor Zakir Hossain, and Professor Hasina Khan, also ceased working, with Professor Khan resigning on September 2.

In this turbulent context, stakeholders had been urging the appointment of a full-time UGC chairman. The interim government has now filled this key position by appointing Professor Faiz.