Rashid Askari made new Bangla Academy DG

Humayun Kabir Jibon
Islamic University’s former vice-chancellor Professor Dr. M Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari has been appointed as new director general of the Bangla Academy for the next three years.
A press release, signed by the public administration ministry’s deputy secretary Bhaskar Debnath Bappi, was issued in this regard on Thursday afternoon.
The government appointed him to the post for the next three years on July 18. He was replaced to Nurul Huda as his tenure came to an end. The officials of the Bangla Academy, however, welcomed the newly appointed DG with floral reception.
While taking charge on Wednesday, Dr Rashid Askari sought cooperation from all to work for the improvement of the academy’s ranking in the international arena and maintain transparency and accountability in all sectors.
Rashid Askari, who previously served Islamic University in Kushtia as its 12th vice-chancellor, joined office on Sunday, sources from Bangla Academy office said.
He joined as a lecturer in English at Islamic University in Kushtia in 1990. He was made IU’s 12th vice-chancellor on August 20, 2016.
He, as a vice-chancellor, introduced considerable measures to secularize and internationalize the academic trajectory of the university as well as adopted down to earth policies to help the university cope with various challenges of the 21st Century.
He has facilitated the development of the understanding of cultural diversity of humankind in order to prepare students to go forth with skills, knowledge and wisdom to serve and advance the communities in which they live and work. 
Askari's writings including short stories, essays, columns and political commentaries contribute to the furtherance of secular, humanistic, progressive, non-communal and feminist thoughts in Bangladesh and beyond.