Md Nazrul Islam, Mymensingh
Ending a long wait, academic activities are set to begin at Mymensingh Government Women's Polytechnic Institute. In the first batch for the 2026-27 academic year, 100 female students will be admitted, with 50 seats each in Computer Science and Technology and Food Technology.
According to the Bangladesh Technical Education Board's admission notice, online applications for government polytechnic institutes will be accepted from August 22 to September 18, 2026. Candidates who passed the SSC or equivalent examinations between 2022 and 2026 will be eligible, subject to the prescribed requirements.
The admission test will be held on September 26, 2026, from 10am to 11am. Classes are scheduled to begin on November 10, 2026, after completion of the admission process.
The demand for establishing a women's polytechnic institute in Mymensingh divisional city has continued for years. According to government project documents, a project to establish four women's polytechnic institutes in Sylhet, Barishal, Mymensingh and Rangpur was approved at an Ecnec meeting on March 12, 2018.
The project aimed to increase women's participation in technical education and develop skilled human resources.
Mymensingh District Citizens' Movement and Development Struggle Council General Secretary and freedom fighter Engineer Nurul Amin Kalam said citizens had launched a strong movement after learning of an initiative to relocate the institution from the divisional headquarters.
Journalist Nazrul Islam, representing civil society, raised the issue with the highest level of the then government. Eventually, a decision was taken to establish the institute beside Mymensingh Polytechnic Institute.
Significant infrastructure has already been completed, including an academic building, workshop building, administrative building, a 200-seat female students' hostel, principal's residence and staff quarters, under the supervision of the Education Engineering Department (EED).
Mymensingh district Executive Engineer of the EED Md Russell Mia said construction of the main buildings had been completed. The remaining works, including roads, drains, boundary walls and an electrical substation, would also be completed within the stipulated time, he said.
Md Shawkat Hossain, vice-principal of Mymensingh Polytechnic Institute, has been given charge as principal of the women's institute.
He said the institution's academic journey would begin this year with its first batch in Computer Science and Technology and Food Technology. Necessary preparations are under way for a smooth start to academic activities.
Officials concerned said the institute would expand technical education opportunities for female students from Mymensingh and the wider region.
They said training in employment-oriented fields such as computer technology and food technology would help students develop skills suited to the domestic and international labour markets.
Kazi Rana, a senior BNP leader in Mymensingh, said the current government had urged that infrastructure work be expedited. The start of admissions this year has opened a new door to technical education for women students in the region, he said.
According to those concerned, the institute could eventually become a major centre for women's technical education in the Mymensingh division through expansion of its programmes and seat capacity.
