Mizan’s appointment as NU Pro-VC postponed due to false allegation

Staff Reporter :
Caught in the murky waters of political maneuvering, Dr. Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, Professor of the Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Department at Dhaka University, finds himself embroiled in a series of professional upheavals.
On April 4, the government appointed Dr. Mohammad Mizanur Rahman as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the National University, only to swiftly suspend his appointment with another notification from the Education Ministry mere hours later.
Dr. Mizan, also serving as the Director of the Institute of Leather Engineering and Technology (ILET), alleges that a vested interest group fed false information to the government, leading to the suspension of his appointment.
“If I had assumed the role of Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the National University, it would have served as a bulwark against any potential irregularities or corruption. Hence, certain individuals conspired to delay my appointment,” he lamented.
According to protocol, a proposal for Dr. Mizan’s appointment was forwarded from the Education Ministry to the Prime Minister’s Office, subsequently undergoing approval from the President and the Chancellor before the Ministry issued a formal notification. Additionally, the appointment to such a pivotal position within the university undergoes rigorous security scrutiny, with all requisite processes duly completed prior to his appointment.
However, the controversy surrounding Dr. Mizan’s appointment quickly spilled over, with Dhaka University facing accusations of affiliation with a pro-BNP teachers’ organization.
Dr. Mizan’s political affiliations and his tenure as the convener of the pro-Awami League teachers’ organization Blue Party (Neel Dal) at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology in Dhaka University, as well as his past role as a Syndicate Member of the University from 2015 to 2018, shed light on his deep-rooted ties within the political landscape. Presently, he serves as a member of Awami League’s science and technology sub-committee, further solidifying his allegiance to the ruling party.
“I have come to know that allegations have been made against me for the involvement of white party and BNP. But since 2008, I have been closely associated with the pro-Awami League teachers’ organization Neel Dal,” Mizan clarified, vehemently denying allegations of any affiliation with other political entities.
“Since 2016, I have been serving as a member of the science and technology sub-committee of Bangladesh Awami League. Despite this, I have been accused of belonging to another party, which I find extremely malicious and vindictive,” he added, expressing frustration at the baseless accusations leveled against him.