ARAFAT RAHAMAN

The government has decided to form a search committee to recommend vice-chancellors, pro-VCs, and treasurers for public universities. But educationists are criticising the timing and intent of the move as most of these top positions in at least 47 universities have already been filled.

However, some experts have welcomed the move as “better late than never”.

The education ministry’s secondary and higher education division issued a notification on Sunday, stating that the committee will review applications and propose three names for each post. The president, who also serves as the chancellor of public universities, will make the final appointments.

The committee, headed by Education Adviser Prof CR Abrar, includes University Grants Commission (UGC) members Prof Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan and Prof Md Saidur Rahman, Rajshahi University VC Prof Saleh Hasan Naqib, and BRAC University Prof Firdous Azim.

The University Wing of the education ministry’s division will serve as its secretariat.

Former Jahangirnagar University Professor Anu Muhammad said forming a committee alone does not guarantee fair appointments or improved university governance.

“It depends entirely on who is appointed and He

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