Northern University VC Delay Sparks Fury, UGC Member in Hot Seat

A storm is brewing at Northern University Bangladesh (NUB) as allegations of deliberate delays in appointing a Vice-Chancellor (VC) ignite tensions, with fingers pointing at a University Grants Commission (UGC) member for allegedly pulling strings behind the scenes. The controversy, fueled by a fraudulent Board of Trustees (BoT) under a court injunction, has plunged the university into chaos, with accusations of bias and overreach flying fast.

NUB authorities sent a letter to the UGC and the Education Ministry on January 15, 2025, pushing for a new VC, followed by a candidate list on February 2. On July 14, the Ministry demanded a legal opinion from the UGC on the VC appointment. But instead of delivering, the UGC, led by Professor Dr. Mohammad Anwar Hossain of its Private University Management Division, allegedly stalled, pivoting to propose an “administrator” for NUB—a move critics slam as beyond the UGC’s authority. Sources say the Education Ministry explicitly sought input on the VC, not an administrator, making the UGC’s detour a glaring overstep.

The UGC claims a pending lawsuit over NUB’s BoT, declared fraudulent and barred by a District Judge Court (Case No. 17/2025), is stalling the VC process, prioritizing an administrator instead. NUB insiders, however, cry foul, accusing Dr. Anwar of propping up a “fake” BoT faction as a “disputing party” to justify the delay. They argue the court’s injunction on the supplementary IBAT and NUB Trust invalidates any such interference, and the UGC’s focus on an administrator violates the Private University Act, which limits their role to vetting VC candidates’ eligibility.

In a particularly spicy twist, the UGC proposed retired Brigadier General Abdullah Al Yusuf as an administrator, only for the Education Adviser to scrap the idea and shelve the proposal. Insiders allege Dr. Anwar colluded with members of the discredited BoT, including Borhan Uddin and Lutfor Rahman, who, post-August 5, 2024, tried to seize control of NUB after a political shift. Their bid, backed by alleged attacks and looting on campus, failed, leading to their arrest and a lawsuit.

Further stoking the fire, NUB sources claim Dr. Anwar rigged two investigation committees. The first, including Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University’s Professor Noman Faruk, a close ally of the fake BoT, was disbanded after bias allegations. A second, led by former District Judge Altaf Hossain—linked to the same fraudulent faction and a former part-time NUB lecturer—was also tainted. Altaf, who served as a legal adviser under Awami League’s rule, submitted a unilateral report without committee consensus, which the High Court rejected.

An anonymous NUB senior official vented to The Daily Campus, “We followed all rules, submitting the VC panel to the UGC. The Ministry asked for their opinion, but they’re stonewalling for unknown reasons. A group has been scheming to hijack NUB since August 5, filing baseless claims they couldn’t prove in court. They’re dragging out the VC appointment to cause trouble.” They added, “The UGC is treating a fake faction as legitimate, despite the court’s ban. Focusing on an administrator when the Ministry demanded a VC opinion is outright illegal.”

A current BoT member echoed this, accusing Dr. Anwar of bias in both committees, noting the first was scrapped and the second’s report deemed baseless by the court. “They fabricated a fake BoT to demand an administrator, but the Ministry clearly asked for a VC opinion. The UGC’s chief is pushing this sham agenda,” they fumed.

Dr. Anwar, defending himself to The Daily Campus, insisted, “We need BoT details for the VC report, but the issue is tangled in court. I have no personal agenda or influence here.” On the administrator push, he claimed it followed Ministry directives, despite evidence the Ministry sought only VC input. Attempts to reach UGC Chairman Dr. S M A Faiz for comment were unsuccessful.

The saga, rooted in a power grab attempt post-August 5, 2024, when Borhan and Lutfor tried to reclaim NUB’s control, has left the university’s academic and administrative future hanging. With court battles, alleged collusion, and a defiant UGC, NUB’s fight for a VC is a high-stakes drama with no end in sight.