Prof. Dr. Engr. Md. Rezaul Karim

Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim is a distinguished academic and the current Vice Chancellor of Khulna University, Bangladesh. With over three decades of experience in higher education, he has made profound contributions to teaching, research, and academic leadership.

A pioneer in GIS education in Bangladesh, Dr. Karim is recognized as the founder of the country’s first GIS Laboratory and the author of the first Bangla-language book on GIS. He was the founding Head of the Urban and Rural Planning Discipline at Khulna University and has served as Dean of the School of Science, Engineering, and Technology. His academic journey began with a B.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering from Bangladesh Agricultural University, followed by a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) from BUET, an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in GIS from Canada, and a Ph.D. in Geography and Environment from the University of Rajshahi.

Dr. Karim has served as Sub-Project Manager under the HEQEP (World Bank-UGC), Director of the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) at Khulna University, and as a World Bank Consultant for the College Education Development Project. He is a certified Academic Auditor of the Bangladesh Accreditation Council and a Master Trainer of UGC for quality assurance in higher education.

His professional engagements span across numerous national and international consultancy projects, academic collaborations, and training programs in the UK, Canada, Thailand, and the Philippines. He has contributed extensively to the development of outcome-based curricula, quality assurance mechanisms, and planning education reforms across several public universities in Bangladesh.

Professor Karim is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (UK), and a life member of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP). In recognition of his lifelong service, he has received multiple accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Awards from both Khulna University Planners Alumni and the Bangladesh Institute of Planners.