– Professor Dr. M. Ataur Rahman

Professor Dr. M. Ataur Rahman
Chairman
Department of Mangement
University of Dhaka

The University of Dhaka was established in 1921 and started its journey in July of that year is a fast growing university in Asia region and at present it has 10 Faculties, 73 Departments, 9 research centers, 22 residential halls including 15 for males and 7 for females, one international students’ hall, about 35,000 students and 2200 teachers of different hierarchies, said Professor Dr. Ataur Rahman, Chairman, Department of Mangement, University of Dhaka, in an exclusive interview with The Guardian.

The Chairman informed that the Department of Management has started its journey in 1970 as full-fledged department under the Faculty of Commerce. Then there were two departments only- the Department of Management was one of them. Just after the establishment of the University of Dhaka it was under the department of economics as a stream and in 1970, it was brought under the Department of Commerce.

Terming the Department of Management as one of the oldest departments of the University of Dhaka as well as in Bangladesh, Professor Rahman mentioned that it is the best department in this part of the world, especially in Southeast Asia, Africa, Middle East and some of the European and American countries as regards the number of students, quality teachers and students, physical facilities, attraction to career development, research activities and so on.

In this context, he informed that the Department has 6-classrooms, one shared exam hall with another department of the same faculty, one computer lab with 40 (thirty) computer sets, 20 teachers’ room and the Faculty of Business Studies owns an e-library with 5-other exam halls for the use of departments, 80-computers for library use only, one research room for all teachers of the faculty, and e-library is connected with 14-most modern libraries of different universities of the world.

The Chairman mentioned that the Department is currently offering BBA, MBA, MBA (Evening), Master of Professional HRM (MPHRM), M.Phil., Ph.D., Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programs for undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. He then added that more or less 50 thousand students have finished their academic sessions successfully up till now and about 2,500 students, managers and executives of various levels are pursuing their studies currently and more than 30 researchers are pursuing their M.Phil, Ph.D and DBA research and courses at present under the direct supervision of renowned professors of the department.

The Chairman is working at his office.

In reply to a particular question, he said that the faculty strength of the department is 33 (thirty three), 3 (three professors are on deputation and employed by the govt. in position of Vice-Chancellors and Treasurers of different public universities of the country, and two teachers are doing Ph.D. research one in Canada and another in the United Kingdom, and 10 supportive staff including one officer are working in the department.

In this context, he also mentioned that most of the teachers of the department have Ph.D. and/or MBA degrees either from abroad or from Dhaka University and all of them have excellent teaching capacity and strong research background, and very often they are invited by renowned foreign universities for presenting papers and attending the seminars.

When asked to comment about the professional success of his passing out students, he said that the graduates of his department are playing most important roles in the corporate world, especially for managing the organization and increasing the growth of trade, commerce, industry, banking, finance and insurance sectors in Bangladesh, adding that there remains no big organizations where graduates of management department are not serving and also a good number of these organizations are also owned and led by their graduates.

In an exclusive interview, Profesror Rahman, a high profile educationist and researcher, replied to several questions, focusing on entire activities, facilities, contributions, problems, prospects, achievements and future plans of his department, including the roles and contributions of the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh. His deliberations are quite outstanding, informative and educative as well. The valuable excerpts of his valuable interview are presented here for The Guardian readers at home and abroad:

The Guardian: Please give us a short introduction to the history of the University of Dhaka?

Chairman: The need for the establishment of a university in the then State of Bengal of the then British regime was felt from the first decade of twentieth century. A good number of great leaders of the State felt a pressing need for a university in Dhaka. But the fruits of that movement could not see the light of earth due to non-cooperation of a section of people. Despite, the then British government recognized the felt need of people of Bengal Muslims. Last of all, the University of Dhaka was established in 1921 and started its journey in July of that year.

The Guardian: In this context, would you mention the present status of the university, especially the number of departments, faculties and other relevant facilities available at the university for both teachers and students?

The Chairman, teachers and MPHRM students are seen in front of Senate Bhaban, Dhaka University.

Chairman: The University of Dhaka is a fast growing university in Asia. At present it has 10 Faculties, 73 Departments, 9 research centers, 22 residential halls/hostels (15 for males and 7 for females), one international students’ hall, about 35,000 students and 2200 teachers of different hierarchies.

The Guardian: Please tell us the beginning history of the Department of Management of the University of Dhaka, the way it has come to its today’s position of glory and success?

Chairman: The Department of Management has started its journey in 1970 as full-fledged department under the Faculty of Commerce. Then there were two departments only- the Department of Management was one of them. Just after the establishment of the University of Dhaka it was under the department of economics as a stream. In 1970, it was brought under the Department of Commerce.

The Guardian: Would you say how a teacher is nominated for chairman of a department of the university and how a chairman is finally appointed?

Chairman: According to the provision of the 1973 Ordinance of the University of Dhaka, Chairman of any Department is appointed on seniority basis and by rotation. The Chairman is appointed among the internal teachers having positions of Assistant Professor and above, i.e. no lecturer is not appointed in that position except otherwise decided under special circumstances.
The Guardian: In this context, would you discuss the power and functions of a chairman, especially the Chairman of the Department of Management of the University of Dhaka.

Chairman: Chairman is the chief executive of the department. His job descriptions are taking classes calling academic committee and coordination and development (C&D) meetings, attending the faculty level meetings, signing all documents of the department regarding admission of students, and relevant usual and regular routine activities. He gets an honorarium from the University authority and telephone bill for residential use.

The Guardian: Would you also mention the strength of manpower and financial source and capacity of the chairman office to run its overall activities smoothly?

The Chairman, Dean of the Faculty of Business Studiies (FBS), Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University are seen at Northern University, Chicago, USA, in April 2016.

Chairman: At present (March, 2016), Department has 6 manpower (one officer and 5 class three and class four staff). The main and only source of finance of the department is students’ admission fees and allocation from the university authority.

The Guardian: Please discuss the problems as well as limitations of the chairman office and suggest what further steps should be taken to solve those, so that the chairman office can serve the purpose of the department in true sense?

Chairman: Administrative costs of the department are high for buying computers, power point projector, microphones and maintaining those regularly. With the limited income from the students’ contribution, it is very difficult to satisfy the above cost requirements.
The Guardian: In this context, would you discuss the interactions of chairman with the dean office and also say what help or cooperation the chairman office gets from the dean office, especially from the central administration of the university, to fulfil the various demands of the department?

Chairman: Chairman and Dean of the faculty are interdependent. For successful running of the departmental activities, support and assistance from the Dean Office and central office are must. That is why chairman always seeks and gets supports and assistance from the Dean office and university’s central administration.

The Guardian: Would you mention the physical infrastructures like class rooms, exam halls, teachers’ rooms and seminar rooms and other facilities available for academic, research and co-curricular activities for the teachers and students of your department?

Chairman: At present, the Department of Management has 6-classrooms, one shared exam hall with another department of the same faculty. One computer lab with 40 (thirty) computer sets, 20 teachers’ room. Faculty of Business Studies owns an e-library with 5-other exam halls are also in use for the department if needed. About 80-computers for library use only, one research room for all teachers of the faculty. This e-library is connected with 14-most modern libraries of different universities of the world. This is first of its kind in Bangladesh.

The faculty has one child care unit, one Bureau of Business Research, one conference room and one meeting room with all modern facilities. The faculty arranged four elevators both for the teachers and students. Very soon another elevator will be added to the present strength. We have one international standard food court and Ice-cream parlour.

All students can use these facilities. The university has established one swimming pool, more than three football and cricket fields and one gymnasium. The university is maintaining one medical center for 24-hour use for both the teachers, students and officers and employees. Our all classrooms are well-decorated with multi-media projectors, while boards and air conditioners and microphone for delivering lecture.

The Chairman, Dean and other teachers of the Faculty of Business Studies of Dhaka University are seen at Sacred Heart University, Connecticut, USA.

The Guardian: Would you mention what courses, i.e. what level of degrees are currently offered by your department and what qualifications are required to get admission into the different courses of the department?

Chairman: The Department of Management is currently offering BBA, MBA, MBA (Evening), Master of Professional HRM (MPHRM), M.Phil., Ph.D., Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programs for undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. For undergraduate program, admissions seekers must have higher secondary and equivalent degree. But for MBA, MBA (Eve) and MPHRM programs, only graduates can apply having CGPA 2.5 and above. Post-graduate students can only apply for the M.Phil, Ph.D and DBA Programs.

The Guardian: Would you mention the number of students already passed out and currently studying in the department?

Chairman: More or less 50 thousand students have finished their academic sessions successfully up till now and about 2,500 students, managers and executives of various levels are pursuing their studies currently. More than 30 researchers are pursuing their M.Phil, Ph.D and DBA research and courses at present under the direct supervision of only renowned professors.

The Guardian: Would you comment about the state of academic results and successes of the students of this department in their professional life?

Chairman: The Faculty of Business Studies gives admissions to the undergraduate and postgraduate students selected through rigorous admission tests in different semesters. Therefore, rate of success of students in the examinations is also high. More than 95% students obtain higher grades. These grades ranges from A- (70-74), A (75-79), to A+ (80 and above).

The Guardian: Would you mention the number of teachers and supportive staff currently working in the department?

The Chairman along with his other colleagues of the FBS is seen in Federation University, Australia.

Chairman: The existing faculty strength of the department is 33 (thirty three), 3 (three professors are on deputation and employed by the govt. in the positions of Vice-Chancellors and Treasurers of different public universities of the country. Two teachers are doing Ph.D. research one in Canada and another in the United Kingdom. At present 10 supportive staff including one officer are working in the department.

The Guardian: Would you comment about the qualifications and teaching capacity of the teachers of this department?

Chairman: Most of the teachers of the department have Ph.D. and/or MBA degrees either from abroad or from Dhaka University. All of them have excellent teaching capacity and strong research background. Very often they are invited by renowned foreign universities for presenting papers and attending the seminars.

The Guardian: Would you comment about the status of the Department of Management in overall aspects, compared to that of other departments of the University of Dhaka, especially among the other universities at home and abroad?

Chairman: The Department of Management is one of the oldest departments of the University of Dhaka as well as in Bangladesh. It is the best department of the country and south-east Asia, Africa, Middle East, some of the European and American countries as regards number of students, quality teachers and students, physical facilities, attraction to career development, research activities and so on.
The Guardian: Do you have any plan to open more new system under this department to improve the overall activities of the department?

Chairman: The Department of Management has recently started Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program and MPHRM program for the first time in the history of Bangladesh. We are trying to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with different foreign universities. A good number of students are visiting different universities in seminars, workshops and conferences as well as different extracurricular activities.

The department is arranging very frequently career development workshops in collaboration with corporate world. The department will be starting certificate and diploma courses very soon. Side by side Human Resource Department might be opened in the Faculty. Every year and for every batch all students are sent to a number of public and private organizations to obtain practical knowledge on different management aspects.

The Chairman, Dean and other colleagues of the FBS of Dhaka University are seen in Younsei Universty, Seoul, South Korea.

The Guardian: Would you also say what links this department maintains with the Department of Management of different local and foreign universities and what interactions your department does with those universities?

Chairman: Dhaka University is the oldest university of Bangladesh. For training of teachers, formulation of curriculum and so on, Dhaka University always extends its cooperation to the local universities. Thus there is a well relationship with the local universities. Similarly, this university is maintaining academic and research relationships with a good number of American, European, Australian and Asian Universities.
The Department of Management sends a good number of faculty members to the universities of different countries for higher studies and research purposes. Some teachers of the department worked as visiting professors in many countries. Only in 1915 our faculties visited Australia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Abu Dhabi, United Kingdom and United States of America.

The Guardian: Would you also inform us what links your department maintains with the various local and foreign enterprises of trade, commerce, industry, banking, finance and insurance sectors to introduce your new graduates to the world of profession?

Chairman: Teachers of the Department of Management are maintaining close relationships with a good number of local and foreign enterprises of trade, commerce, industry, banks, financial, insurance, investment and leasing companies. We are helping them to recruit suitable officers and employees and train them. The department is supplying potential candidates for them and giving them admission under corporate quota.

The Guardian: Keeping this in mind, please comment about the overall problems and prospects management education and professional in Bangladesh?

Chairman: Bangladesh is a developing country. Its economy is not that much strong. Still government of Bangladesh is providing a significant amount of budget to the university education. Dhaka University is getting maximum amount of financial grants from the University Grants Commission and Government.

Recently, some private organizations are providing their CSR funds for the development of physical facilities and other purposes. With this help, business and management education is doing well. Management Department is the best contributor and performer in this sector. With the pressing need for business and management education, our department is doing best by supplying efficient managers and executives.

The Chairman accompanied by his departmental colleagues and students is seen distributing clothes to the poor children in front of FBS Building, Dhaka University.

The Guardian: In this context, would you assess the roles and contributions of the University of Dhaka, especially the graduates of your department in the development and growth of trade, commerce, industry, banking, finance and insurance sectors in Bangladesh?

Chairman: Definitely, graduates of my department are playing most important roles in the corporate world, especially for managing the organization and increasing the growth of trade, commerce, industry, banking, finance and insurance sectors in Bangladesh. You will not find any big organization where graduates of management department are not serving. A good number these organizations are also owned and led by our graduates.

The Guardian: Would you also assess the present scenario of trade, comer, industry, banking, finance and insurance sectors in Bangladesh and keeping this in mind what further steps your department should contemplate to take, so that your new generation graduates can be more dynamic, realistic and competent enough to face the present and further challenges of trade, commerce, industry, banking, finance and insurance sectors very effectively and expectedly?

Chairman: Since 1983, just after the implementation of New Industrial Policy (NIP), a competitive environment has been created. Within a couple of years, a good number of businesses, trade, commercial and industrial organizations have been emerged. Therefore, competition is inevitable with a view to face these competitive challenges.

The Department of Management has been producing efficient and committed graduates. We think, very soon, Bangladesh will feel a serious need for talented human resource managers. With this end in view, we have started Master’s Program on Human Resource Management. We hope the department will be able to establish trust among the employers by supplying efficient Human Resource Managers.

The Guardian: In the end, please gives your valuable message for teachers and students, and especially for all concerned with the world of management profession in Bangladesh?

Chairman: Our teachers are committed to their duties and responsibilities. Our students are sincere about their tasks. Corporate world is demanding more efficient and committed managers. We will supply managers to the corporate sector. But employment of expatriates must be stopped immediately.

For minimizing gaps between universities, Departments and corporate world, we should come to know their needs and they should also know our capabilities. They can invest some of their CSR funds for strengthening our research, training and academic environment and increasing facilities. In this regard, the Government of Bangladesh must promulgate concerned Laws without any fail as early as possible.

The Chairman along with Dean and other colleagues of the FBS of the University of Dhaka is seen at Sacred Heart University, Connecticut, USA.

Profile of Dr. Ataur Rahman

Dr. M. Ataur Rahman is a Professor and at present Chairman, Department of Management, Faculty of Business Studies, University of Dhaka. He did his Master’s degree from the Department of Management, University of Rajshahi in 1976. But the exam was held in 1979.

He joined his first Government service under Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in 1980. After leaving that job, he joined Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) as Faculty Member in the same year.

In 1981 Dr. Rahman joined the Department of Management, University of Rajshahi as Lecturer. After six months of service, he left Rajshahi University and joined the Department of Management, University of Dhaka in the same position. In 1985 he left for Banaras Hindu University, India for his Ph.D. degree and came back in 1988. In 2000 he has been appointed as full Professor in his Department. In 2004 he joined as Chairman in the Department of Business Administration, South East University, Dhaka on extra ordinary leave and came back in his parent Department of Management of the University of Dhaka in 2006.

Under his supervision and examinership more than thirty scholars have completed their M. Phil and Ph.D. degrees from both domestic and foreign Universities. At present under him about ten scholars are pursuing their M.Phil and Ph.D. degrees of different Universities.

Dr. Rahman is an author of more than twenty five books which are used as text and reference at different levels, starting from H.S.C. to Master’s levels of education across the country.