Merit triumphs at BAU: fourteen years of politicised recruitment ends
BAU Correspondent:
In a watershed moment for higher education in the country, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has broken away from a 14-year legacy of politically motivated faculty recruitment, making way for a new standard rooted in merit and transparency.
Under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr A K Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan, five assistant professors have been appointed through a selection process that many are calling one of the fairest in the university’s recent history. The move has been widely applauded by academics and students alike as a long-overdue return to the principles of academic integrity.
The newly appointed faculty members are Dr. Aniruddho Sarkar, Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Institute for Food Security; Dr. Masud Rana, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics; Dr. Shariful Islam, Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics; Dr. Lamiur Rayhan, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension Education; Md Saiful Islam Saif, Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Several of the new appointees, all high-achieving scholars, shared accounts of earlier rejections despite outstanding academic credentials—rejections they believe were tied to their perceived political affiliations during student life.
Dr Aniruddho Sarkar shared that despite placing fifth in his honours and topping his master’s class, he was denied a faculty position twice—decisions he believes were influenced by his past political affiliation. “Candidates with lesser academic qualifications were chosen over me,” he said, adding that he also lost four government job opportunities due to adverse NSI clearance linked to his political background.
Echoing similar sentiments, Dr Masud Rana, a gold medalist and third-place graduate in his honours, noted that he too was twice overlooked in previous recruitment rounds. “My involvement in student politics during my university years cost me opportunities I had earned through academic merit,” he said.
Dr. Shariful Islam recalled being expelled from his university dorm in 2012 due to his association with an opposition student group. Despite earning a degree in Denmark and excelling academically, he was previously passed over for faculty positions. “This is more than a personal milestone—it is a sign that justice is possible,” he said.
Dr Lamiur Rayhan, who completed both his honours and master’s with a perfect CGPA and received the President’s Gold Medal, described years of hardship and even violence. “In 2015, during a previous recruitment process, I was threatened at gunpoint and forced to leave. Today’s appointment is not just mine—it belongs to all who have faced such injustices.”
Their stories echo a broader pattern that has dogged BAU for years. A 2012 syndicate meeting saw a series of controversial appointments that drew criticism for favouring politically connected candidates over more qualified applicants. The incident left a lasting stain on the university’s reputation.
In contrast, the current administration’s merit-based approach is being seen as a moral and institutional victory. Vice-Chancellor Dr. A K Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan said, “This is not just about five appointments—it’s a statement. If we uphold merit, we uphold the future of this university.”
Prof Bhuiyan, himself a former top-ranking student, added, “For too long, brilliant candidates were overlooked due to ideology or background. We’ve tried to right that wrong. Let this serve as an example for all institutions—where merit is honoured, a nation is strengthened.”
However, the current administration has taken deliberate steps to break from past practices. According to university officials, the latest round of recruitment was conducted with a strict focus on academic credentials, accomplishments, and merit—setting aside all political considerations.