Professor Dr Md Faridul Islam has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University, one of Bangladesh’s leading public universities. The announcement was made on Monday afternoon (16 March) during a briefing at the Ministry of Education by Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon. The formal government notification confirming the appointment is expected to be issued shortly.
University authorities acknowledged the development, although they noted that the official gazette notification had not yet reached the institution at the time of the announcement. Professor Akhtar Hossain Majumdar, a senior university official, stated that the administration had learned about the appointment through the ministry’s briefing. He added that once the official order arrives, the university will promptly complete the formalities required for the handover of responsibilities to the new Vice-Chancellor.
Responding to the announcement, Professor Faridul Islam said he was mentally prepared to take on the responsibilities associated with leading the institution. However, he confirmed that he had not yet received the formal notification from the government. He expressed hope that once the official documentation is issued, he will be able to begin his tenure and focus on strengthening academic standards, research output, and administrative efficiency at the university.
Professor Faridul Islam has been a long-standing member of the Rajshahi University faculty and has played an active role in both academic and administrative activities. Over nearly three decades of service, he has built a reputation as a dedicated academic in the field of marketing and business studies.
In addition to his academic responsibilities, he has been involved in teachers’ professional organisations at the university. He currently serves as the General Secretary of the Rajshahi University Zia Parishad and is also a member of the Nationalist Teachers’ Forum and UTAB. In 2022, he was elected Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies as a candidate supported by the BNP–Jamaat-backed panel.
His academic career at Rajshahi University began in 1996 when he joined the Department of Marketing as a lecturer. Over the years he progressed through the academic ranks and was promoted to the position of full professor in 2020. Throughout his career, he has contributed to teaching, research, and academic leadership within the university.
Professor Faridul Islam’s educational background reflects both national and international academic training. He completed his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in marketing at Rajshahi University before pursuing further studies abroad. In 2006, he earned a master’s degree from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, and later completed his PhD in 2013 from Curtin University in Australia.
The key milestones in his academic and professional career are summarised below:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Professor Dr Md Faridul Islam |
| New Position | Vice-Chancellor, Rajshahi University |
| Academic Discipline | Marketing and Business Studies |
| Joined Rajshahi University | 1996 (Lecturer) |
| Promoted to Professor | 2020 |
| Dean, Faculty of Business Studies | Elected in 2022 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | Marketing, Rajshahi University (1989) |
| Master’s Degree | Marketing, Rajshahi University (1990) |
| International Master’s | University of Gothenburg, Sweden (2006) |
| PhD | Curtin University, Australia (2013) |
Apart from teaching and administrative duties, Professor Faridul Islam has contributed to academic research, particularly in areas related to marketing management, consumer behaviour, and business strategy. Several of his research papers have appeared in national and international academic journals, and he has participated in numerous academic seminars and research initiatives.
Rajshahi University, established in 1953, is one of Bangladesh’s largest and most prominent public universities, with thousands of students enrolled across multiple faculties and departments. The appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor is therefore considered an important development for the institution’s academic governance and future strategic direction.
University stakeholders hope that Professor Faridul Islam’s long experience in teaching, research, and faculty leadership will enable him to address key challenges facing the university, including strengthening research capacity, improving academic infrastructure, and maintaining a stable and inclusive campus environment. Once the official government notification is issued, he is expected to formally assume office and begin his tenure as the university’s chief executive academic officer.