A conversation with Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU)
Aminul Islam
DR. Musharraf Hossain Mian was born in a remote village of Nakla Upazila in Sherpur District. He started his studies at village primary and high schools and was never second in any examination during his student life. As a teacher of BAU he gained reputation and he was appointmented as the VC of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University in Dinajpur.
When this correspondent in Mymensingh met with the Vice-Chancellor at his office on November 11, he spoke freely on various matters relating to his personal life and as an administrator.
The excerpts are given below:
Distinguished educationist and scientist of international repute Agriculturist Professor Dr. M. Musharraf Hossain Mian was appointed to the post of Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) for a period of four years in August this year. He is the second graduate of this University to become the 18th Vice-Chancellor within 45 years of the establishment of Bangladesh Agricultural University on 18 August, 1961.
Prior to joining the present position he was the Founder Vice-Chancellor of the Hajee
 BAU VC Dr. Musharraf Hossain |
Mohammad Danesh University of Science and Technology (HMDUST), Dinajpur and got second term appointment as the Vice-Chancellor of the same University for 4 years .
A valiant freedom fighter, Professor Dr. Mian comes from a noble Muslim family of the Village Kazaikata under Nakla upazila of Sherpur district. He is the fourth son of late educationist Md. Ali Mian popularly known as Master Sahib and late Suratun Nessa Begum. He actively participated in the mass movement of 1969, in the general election of 1970 and finally in the Liberation War in 1971.
He obtained first class first in B.Sc. (Ag) Honors in 1971 and first class first in M.Sc (Ag) in 1972 from the Department of Soil Science of the Bangladesh Agricultural University(BAU), Mymensingh and did Ph.D in Soil Science from the Dundee University as Commonwealth Scholar.
Professor Dr. Mian started his teaching career at the University level as a Lecturer in BAU Department of Soil Science in July 1, 1975 and was promoted as Professor in 1991. Earlier, he was Research Associate in the same department and served as researcher and teacher during 1972-75.
Dr. Mian developed the azobiofer technology to supplement urea fertilizer in irrigated paddy cultivation a technology that meanwhile proved to be a great success in rice-fish culture. He has written over 75 research publications on agriculture which were published in national and international Journals.
Dr. Mian possesses a brilliant educational background with significant contributions in research. Currently he is the Research Supervisor of seven Ph.D. students and 12 M.S. students.
During 34 years of his teaching, research and eventful career at BAU, Professor Dr. Mian had a vast administrative exposure by holding key administrative positions in different local, national and international organizations. He also played important role in BAU. He was the Head of the Department of Soil Science, Proctor, Hall Provost, Associate Director, BAURES (BAU Research System), House Tutor, President Secretary of BAU Teachers' Association(BAUTA).
He is also the founder of different socio- cultural and scientific organizations. He is associated with national and international scientific and professional organizations and took part in seminars and symposium in and outside the country.
Terming the BAU as a first complete Agricultural University in Asia, Dr. Mian said that all subjects (Agriculture, Veterinary, Animal husbandry, Agri-Economics, Agri-Engineering and Fisheries) related to the agriculture are taught here and Technical Institutions like BINA (Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture), BARI (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute), BFRI (Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute), BARC (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council), BRRI (Bangladesh Rice Research Institute), and BLRI (Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute) are run mostly by BAU Scientists. The main source of our GDP comes from agriculture and the total credit goes to the BAU.
“As a VC of HMDUST, I initiated to introduce faculties such as Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Business Studies, Fisheries, Agro-Industrial and Food Process Engineering Telecommunication and Electronic Engineering (TEE) and Graduate Studies so that students can cope with the present competitive world,” he noted. Modern labs for the students of CSE and TEE were also established at the university and the university was brought under modern communication systems through setting V SAT technology, he further told.
“It is my great achievement that I along with the BAU administration minimized the serious deadlock on course curriculum between Veterinary of Animal Husbandry Faculties within a month which had been continuing for the last 35 years,” the BAU head said with a smile.
Dr. Mian made an appeal to all teachers, students, officers and employees of the university to work hard for the all-out development of the University to take it to even higher grounds at par international level. He specially drew attention of all concerned to help create a congenial academic atmosphere so that international standard education can be imparted by the faculties. Dr. Mian and his wife Begum Jahanara Musharraf are blessed with three sons.
