Campus Desk 

Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed has been elected as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the South Asian University (SAU), established in New Delhi, India, at the initiative of SAARC. He was elected for the next term at the 16th Governing Board meeting of the university held in New Delhi on October 8 and 9.

With his election, Prof  Mamun Ahmed succeeds the outgoing Chairman, Professor Kapila Seneviratne, the representative of Sri Lanka. His election is expected to play an important role in strengthening regional cooperation in higher education and research in South Asia and further expanding Bangladesh's representation.

After being elected as the chairman, Professor Mamun Ahmed said that it is a matter of great honor and dignity for him to be elected as the representative of Bangladesh as the chairman of the Board of Governors of South Asian University. He will fulfill the assigned duties with dedication and sincerity, as well as work to protect the interests of Bangladeshi students and expand cooperation in higher education and research among South Asian countries.

The Governing Board meeting, chaired by Professor Kapila Seneviratne, was attended by the members of the Board. As per the decision of the Board, the term of the Chairman will be for two consecutive meetings or two years from the date of election — whichever occurs first.

Earlier, in the 13th meeting of the Board held on 21 August 2024, a proposal was adopted to elect Professor Kapila Seneviratne, a representative of Sri Lanka, as the next Chairman. He presided over the 14th and 15th meetings of the Board. Later, Professor Mamun Ahmed was elected as the representative of Bangladesh in the process of electing a new Chairman.

Prof Mamun Ahmed is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Dhaka. Before taking charge as the Chairman of the UGC, he served as the Associate Vice-Chancellor (Education) of the University of Dhaka.