DU VC appointment remains pending since panel selection in July

The appointment of Dhaka University Vice Chancellor (VC) remained pending for three months of finalising a three-member Awami League-backed VC panel.
The panel was prepared in a special senate meeting of the university in July.
President Abdul Hamid, also the Chancellor of the University, will appoint the VC from the nominated three-member VC panel, as per the Dhaka University Order 1973, under section 11(1).
But, before sending the proposal to the President, it needs to be sent to the Prime Minister for her approval. The proposal was sent to the Prime Minister's office from the Education Ministry after getting the proposal adopted by the senate.
According to the Education Ministry sources, the Prime Minister's Office has not yet sent the proposal back to the Ministry with the clearance of the Prime Minister. As soon, as the clearance is received, it would be forwarded to the President for approval. Later, a gazette notification will be published to this effect.On July 31, a special session of the DU Senate nominated a three-member panel for appointing its next VC. All of them, belonging to Awami League-backed Blue Panel, were elected uncontested as members of BNP-Jamaat-backed White Panel boycotted the session.
Article 11(1) of Dhaka University Order-1973 says, "The Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed by the Chancellor for a period of four years from a panel of three persons to be nominated by the Senate on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Chancellor, and shall be eligible for re-appointment for a further period of four years."
DU incumbent Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman, Pro Vice-Chancellor (administration) Prof Muhammad Samad and DU Teachers' Association president Prof ASM Maksud Kamal were nominated in the panel for the position of next VC.
The names were proposed by Senate member Prof Shibli Rubayat-Ul Islam and seconded by Bahalul Majnun Chunnu. The session was attended by 93 of the total 105 Senate members.
After 26 years, the university Senate session witnessed the presence of five student representatives through Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) polls on May 11 after 28 years.
When contacted, DU VC Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman told the Daily Observer, "University Senate nominated the three-member VC panel. The Chancellor will appoint VC from the panel as per the University Order 1973."
When asked about the rules of timeframe of appointing VC after finalising VC panel by the Senate, he said maybe there is no provision of timeframe. It depends on the Chancellor.
When asked to explain the delay, Md Sohorab Hossain, Senior Secretary of Secondary and Higher Secondary Division of the Ministry of Education, didn't make any comment.
According to the Senate sources, in the July 30 Senate polls, candidates from the Blue Panel get all three positions. Of them, Pro-VC (admin) Prof Muhammad Samad bagged 42 votes, incumbent VC Prof Akhtaruzzaman got 36 votes and DU Teachers' Association President Prof Maksud Kamal bagged 30 votes.
But, the VC panel sent to the Education Ministry, the names were given following the serial of Akhtaruzzaman, Muhammad Samad and followed by Maksud Kamal. It created debate among the Senate members and most of them protested the decision of the appointment of the incumbent VC.
On January 17 in 2009, Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique assumed office as the 27th vice-chancellor on a temporary basis and served for four years and a half.
On August 25 in 2013, President Abdul Hamid appointed Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique as the Vice-Chancellor, after the latter was elected into the three-member panel.
Another VC-panel election was held on July 29 in 2017 which nominated a three-member panel including the then VC Prof Arefin Siddique.
Following a writ petition filed with the High Court by 16 teachers and registered DU graduates, challenging the legality of the special meeting, the Supreme Court on August 4 in 2017 stayed the functions of the three-member panel.
On September 4 in 2017, Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman, the then Pro-VC, was made Vice-Chancellor, replacing Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique at the end of his tenure.
The High Court on October 10 in 2017, declared illegal the three-member panel elected by the Dhaka University senate on July 29, and directed DU authority to finish the process for constituting a full-fledged senate in six months to elect panel for appointing new vice-chancellor.