Prof Israfil appointed as first vice-chancellor of Thakurgaon University

Dr Mohammad Israfil, professor of Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at Dhaka University (DU), has been appointed as the founder vice-chancellor of Thakurgaon University.

The government appointed Prof Israfil as the first vice-chancellor of the university for next four years on contractual basis since his joining.

Prof Israfil officially joined the university as the vice-chancellor this morning as the Education Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Wednesday (May 6).

Born in 1964, Prof Israfil began his academic journey with a bachelor’s degree in political science from DU and completed it in 1988. In 1991, he earned his master’s degree in Theatre Direction from the prestigious National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi, India. His PhD in Performance Studies was awarded in 1999 from Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata.

After completing his PhD, Dr Israfil joined the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at Dhaka University in 1997.

Throughout his career, Prof Israfil has received numerous awards and recognition, including scholarships from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) for both his MA and PhD studies.

He is a founding member of UNESCO’s Global Network for Higher Education in the Performing Arts and has been a prominent figure in the Bangladesh ITI Centre.

He continues to collaborate with international theatre organisations, serving as a jury member and guest lecturer at various global forums and festivals. His professional affiliations include his role as the founding Chairman of the Bangladesh Theatre for Development Network (BTDN).