Matuail college leadership dispute surfaces as principal attempts to replace board president before term ends
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A controversial bid to replace the governing body president of the Matuail-based Haji Abdul Latif Bhuiyan College is currently unfolding, despite the incumbent having ten months remaining in his two-year term. The college, an MPO-listed institution that receives partial government funding for faculty salaries, operates under a governing board sanctioned by the National University of Bangladesh.
The current president, Dhaka University Pharmacy Professor Zakir Ahmed Chowdhury, was appointed by the National University on May 29, 2023, and is slated to serve until May 2027. Under National University regulations, governing boards are typically not reconstituted before the expiration of their term unless there is a compelling, documented justification.
The push to replace Professor Chowdhury gained momentum following requests from local lawmaker Shirin Sultana and college principal Abu Noman Md. Matiar Rahman, both of whom proposed Sharmin Akter Rita for the position. Sharmin Akter, who identifies as an education secretary for a local unit of the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, has faced scrutiny over her political background. Records indicate she was featured on posters alongside former local Awami League leaders and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and she is currently listed as an accused in a murder case filed at Jatrabari police station on September 2, 2024.
Lawmaker Shirin Sultana told the daily newspaper *Prothom Alo* that she initially requested the change based on misinformation, believing the current committee’s tenure had already expired. She stated that she retracted her support for the nomination upon learning of the candidate’s political associations.
Investigations suggest the move to replace the president is tied to a dispute over the principal’s employment tenure. College records reveal that Principal Matiar Rahman applied for a two-year extension of his contract on June 27, shortly before his scheduled retirement on October 10. The governing body denied this request, citing the institution’s precarious financial position and existing arrears in teacher salaries. Members of the board allege that the principal initiated the campaign to replace the committee immediately following the rejection of his extension.
While the principal denies any collusive effort to overhaul the board, board members and faculty have raised concerns that the move is an attempt by the principal to secure his tenure through a more compliant committee, while the proposed candidate seeks to establish political influence within the institution.
National University’s acting college inspector, Nazim Uddin, confirmed that the university has received the principal’s application. However, he emphasized that the university does not typically approve the dissolution of a governing body mid-term without significant cause. Professor Chowdhury noted that while he would defer to the university’s judgment if they believe a change is in the college’s best interest, he remains critical of the effort to bypass the established term limits over a personnel dispute.
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