Ashley Reed:
In a warm tribute to a respected scholar and educator, former students of the DU Islamic History and Culture Department Alumni Association recently hosted a reception honoring Professor Dr. Md. Siddiqur Rahman Khan following his appointment as Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Open University (BOU).
The event was held recently at the DU Social Science Faculty Auditorium, bringing together former students, colleagues, well-wishers, and members of the academic community. The gathering reflected deep admiration for Professor Khan’s long career in teaching, research, and educational leadership.
Professor Dr. Md. Siddiqur Rahman Khan is a professor in the Department of Islamic History and Culture at the University of Dhaka and is widely known as a historian, administrator, organizer, South Asian political analyst, and media personality. Before taking charge at Bangladesh Open University, he served in several major academic and administrative roles, including Acting Proctor of Dhaka University, Chairman of the Department of Islamic History and Culture, Provost of Sir P. J. Hartog International Hall, and Dean of the Faculty of Arts.
Speakers at the reception highlighted his distinguished academic journey. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Dhaka, securing first class first position in Islamic History and Culture, and later completed his Ph.D. on “Politics and Aristocracy in Nawabi Bengal.” His career began as a lecturer at BAF Shaheen College before he joined the University of Dhaka as a lecturer in 1996.
Professor Khan’s administrative contributions have also been extensive. He has served as General Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Senate Member of Dhaka University, Syndicate Member of Southeast University, and member of several national academic and cultural bodies, including the Bangladesh National Museum Board of Trustees and UNESCO’s Memory of the World National Committee.
Beyond administration, his scholarly work remains significant. He has published more than 35 research articles and authored or edited more than 15 books, including works on Nawabi Bengal, Mughal India, the Ottoman Empire, Dhaka University, and Bangladesh’s history from 1972 to 2014.
The reception celebrated not only an appointment, but a lifetime of service to education and knowledge. Attendees expressed pride in seeing a former student and longtime teacher of the department assume such an important national academic role, and wished Professor Dr. Md. Siddiqur Rahman Khan continued success as he leads Bangladesh Open University into its next chapter.
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