Dhaka University pro-vice chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman has been made acting vice chancellor of the university.

President Abdul Hamid, also the chancellor of the university, today appointed him as an acting vice chancellor of the university, said a circular of the education ministry this afternoon.

The circular stated that Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman has been appointed as acting vice chancellor of Dhaka University as the tenure of Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique ended.

READ MORE: SC stays DU VC panel

Prof Arefin's term ended on August 24.

Earlier on August 3, the Supreme Court allowed Prof Arefin to continue his duties as the vice chancellor until the disposal of the High Court rule issued over the legality of the senate meeting that formed the VC panel on July 29.

It asked the HC to hear and dispose of the rule by four weeks.

The Appellate Division of the SC also stayed the functions of the three-member panel nominated for the appointment of Dhaka University amid protest from a quarter of students.

A three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order during the hearing of an appeal, filed by Dhaka University authorities challenging the High Court order that had stayed the senate meeting.

Following a writ petition, the HC on July 24 stayed the process for holding a special general meeting of DU senate which was scheduled to be held on July 29 for electing a three-member panel to appoint a new vice chancellor.

It also issued a rule asking the authorities to explain why the DU's move to hold a special general meeting of DU senate without forming its full-fledged senate should not be declared illegal.

Following a petition filed by DU authorities, the SC chamber judge on July 27 stayed the HC order, allowing the authorities to hold the meeting on July 29 and forwarded the matter to its full bench.

Prof Arefin is a member of the three-man panel formed on July 29. A section of students had protested outside the gates of senate building on that day demanding the presence of student representatives in the senate panel.