Special Report :
North South University (NSU), Bangladesh’s premier private educational institution, is embroiled in a fierce power struggle, following the recent forced resignation of Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof. Atiqul Islam.
This development has sparked widespread unrest and controversy within the university community and beyond, with several former board members battling to reclaim their positions amidst a backdrop of legal disputes and political upheaval.
The NSU board recently made the unprecedented decision to fire VC Prof. Atiqul Islam, citing his prolonged absence from university duties.
Prof. Islam, who had embarked on a vacation to England and Australia last month, failed to return to his post even after significant events unfolded in Bangladesh, including a student-led uprising that contributed to the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.
The board’s decision comes as the institution faces a critical juncture, with the treasurer temporarily taking over the VC’s responsibilities.
According to sources, the board has already compiled a shortlist of three candidates for the position of VC, which will be forwarded to the university’s chancellor, the President of Bangladesh, for approval.
The official letter requesting the appointment of a new VC is expected to be sent next week.
In a parallel development, the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB) has demanded the removal of Prof. Atiqul Islam from the reconstituted board of trustees.
APUB President Sheikh Kabir Hossain argued that the VC, by virtue of his position, serves as the member secretary of the board and should not be included as a regular board member. This, according to APUB, violates existing laws governing university governance.
Meanwhile, the High Court (HC) has stayed the reconstitution of the NSU trustee board, which was reshaped in 2022 by the Sheikh Hasina-led government. Additionally, the court asked the authorities to explain why the reconstitution should not be declared illegal.
The reconstitution followed a University Grants Commission (UGC) investigation that implicated several board members in activities detrimental to state interests, including alleged sponsorship of militancy, corruption, and misuse of university resources.
A person with knowledge of the matter has confirmed to The New Nation that the newly appointed members of the board will file an appeal against the High Court decision, with a hearing scheduled for August 27th.
Six former board members, including Aziz Al Qaiser, Azim Uddin Ahmed, Benajir Ahmed, MA Kashem, Rehana Rahman and Mohammed Shahjahan, filed writ petitions challenging their removal from the board.
The HC’s recent order has effectively reinstated the previous trustee board, which includes these petitioners as founders and life members.