Dr. Mohammad Israfil, a distinguished professor from the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at Dhaka University (DU), has been appointed as the founder vice-chancellor of Thakurgaon University.

The government appointed Prof. Israfil as the university's first vice-chancellor for a four-year term on a contractual basis starting from his date of joining.

Following a notification issued by the Education Ministry on Wednesday, May 6, Prof. Israfil officially joined the university as vice-chancellor this morning.

Born in 1964, Prof. Israfil has an extensive academic background, beginning with a bachelor’s degree in political science from DU in 1988.

He later earned a master’s degree in Theatre Direction in 1991 from the prestigious National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi, India, followed by a PhD in Performance Studies from Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata in 1999.

His academic journey was supported by scholarships from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) for both his postgraduate and doctoral studies.

Dr. Israfil began his teaching career at Dhaka University's Department of Theatre and Performance Studies in 1997.

Throughout his illustrious career, Prof. Israfil has garnered numerous awards and international recognition.

He is a founding member of UNESCO’s Global Network for Higher Education in the Performing Arts and has remained a prominent figure in the Bangladesh ITI Centre.

Beyond his domestic contributions, he continues to collaborate with international theatre organizations, frequently serving as a jury member and guest lecturer at global forums and festivals.

His professional leadership also includes his role as the founding Chairman of the Bangladesh Theatre for Development Network (BTDN), marking a career dedicated to the advancement of performing arts and education.