Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, Pro-vice Chancellor of Dhaka University (DU), has been appointed its acting Vice Chancellor as the tenure of incumbent VC Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique expired.

President Abdul Hamid, also the Chancellor of the university, on Monday appointed Dr Akhtaruzzaman, a professor of Islamic History and Culture Department, as the acting VC on certain conditions, said a notification.

The President gave the temporary appointment as per clause 11 (2) of the Dhaka University Ordinance 1973, said the notification posted on the website of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Education Ministry.

As per the conditions mentioned in the notification, the new VC can be relieved of his charge anytime if the Chancellor deems to do so.

Dr Akhtaruzzaman joined the Islamic History and Culture Department of the university as a lecturer in 1990. He was promoted to professor in 2004. He was the chairman of the department from 2008 to 2011 and the dean of Arts Faculty from 2014 to 2016.

He was elected general secretary of Dhaka University Teachers' Association (Duta) for three consecutive years (2004, 2005 & 2006), and vice president for two years (2009 and 2011).

Dr Arefin Siddique, a professor of Mass Communication and Journalism Department, assumed office as the 27th VC of the country's premier university on a temporary basis on January 17, 2009.

Later, on August 25, 2013, Prof Siddique was appointed elected Vice Chancellor of the university.

On July 29 last, the Dhaka University senate at its special session nominated a three-member panel, including incumbent DU Vice Chancellor Prof Arefin Siddique.

The other panel members were DU treasurer Prof M Kamal Uddin of International Business Department and Prof Mohammed Abdul Aziz of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry Department.

On August 3 last, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, however, stayed the activities of the three-member vice-chancellor panel of Dhaka University for appointing a new VC.

The three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha, also asked the High court to dispose of the rule which was issued seeking explanation as to why the calling of the senate meeting should not be declared illegal and unlawful within four weeks.

Following a writ petition filed by 15 registered graduates, the High Court on July 24 issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why the calling of the senate meeting should not be declared illegal and unlawful.

The education secretary, DU VC, pro-VCs and registrar had been asked to reply to the rule within four weeks.