M. Lutfar Rahman

M. Lutfar Rahman (born 30 November 1944) is a Bangladeshi academic, researcher and scholar. He was the founding vice chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur and served as two time vice chancellor of Daffodil International University. He is the founding Chairman of Computer Science Department of University of Dhaka.^[1] In December 2024, he was appointed as Honorary Adviser for South and Southeast Asia to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation – Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (OIC‑COMSTECH), in recognition of his contributions to science, technology, higher education, and regional collaboration. He also serves as a part‑time member of the Bangladesh Accreditation Council.^[2]

Rahman was born on 30 November 1944 in Rangpur, Bangladesh. He earned B.Sc. (Honours) and M.Sc. degrees in Physics from Rajshahi University, Bangladesh, followed by an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from Loughborough University, England.

Rahman began his career as a Scientific Officer with the Atomic Energy Commission in then‑Pakistan (now Bangladesh), followed by a lecturing stint at the Higher Institute of Electronics in Libya. In 1984, he joined the University of Dhaka’s Department of Applied Physics, Electronics and Communication Engineering. In 1992, he founded and chaired the University’s Department of Computer Science (now Computer Science and Engineering), serving until 1995, and becoming Professor in 1994.^[3] He later served as Director of the University Computer Centre (now Institute of Information Technology) from 1995 to 1999.^[4]

He served as the vice-chancellor of Daffodil International University from April 2011 to July 2015 and from July 2021 to 10 July 2025. Since August 2015, he has been an Emeritus Professor at Daffodil International University's Faculty of Science and Information Technology. He was also the founding Vice‑Chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, serving from October 2008 to May 2009.

He is an educationist and information technology researcher. He has authored over 200 research papers and numerous scientific and technical articles. He has written or edited 17 to 18 books on electronics, computer science, and communications, several of which are widely adopted as university textbooks Daffodil International University.

His research covers areas such as digital systems, microprocessor applications, data communications, computer networks, information security and cryptography.

• Awarded the Halima‑Sharfuddin Science Writer Prize (1992) by Bangla Academy for his book Adhunik Computer Biggan
• Named Best IT Specialist of the Year by Rafiqul Islam Foundation (2005)
• Received the Begum Rokeya Memorial Award (2012) by Bangladesh Shikkha Porjobekkhok Society
• Honoured with the 12th Rapport Award for Excellence in Human Resource Development (2012)
• Conferred the Global Academic Excellence Award by Amity University, Noida (2012)
• President, Bangladesh Electronics Society (now Bangladesh Electronics and Informatics Society), 2010–2017
• Chaired and served on numerous academic and technical committees, organized national conferences in computer science, cryptography and technical education and contributed to national IT policy formulation including the National Y2K Committee and Bangladesh Education and Research Network