The government has taken an initiative to establish public universities in Naogaon and Thakurgaon.
The Cabinet approved the draft of ‘Bangabandhu Public University Naogaon Act, 2022’ and the draft of ‘Thakurgaon University Act, 2022’ in principle on Monday (February 28). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the Cabinet meeting.
Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed the media after the meeting.
With these two new universities, the number of public universities will reach 52. The country now has 108 private universities as well.
The move to set up public university in Naogaon and Thakurgaon is in line with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s promise to establish full-fledged public universities in all the districts, said Khandker Anwarul Islam.
Similar to other public universities, the President will act as the chancellor and will appoint vice-chancellors for a term of four years. The universities will have two vice-chancellors and a treasurer, said the Cabinet Secretary.
He also said that the draft laws set out the rules and regulations for conducting the activities and curriculum of the universities.
People of Naogaon and Thakurgaon are happy over the government’s move on setting up universities in their districts.
However, work was going on to select a suitable site for setting up a full-fledged public university in Naogaon.
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder earlier had visited Taltali area of Dighali Beel in Naogaon Sadar upazila and Chhatra Beel area of Niamatpur and Mahadebpur upazilas to choose a place for establishing the proposed university.
The two places are a bit away from Naogaon town as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave a directive to establish the university in rural areas.
The number of universities, both public and private, is increasing in the country every year, but many of them are unable to provide quality education as per world standard.
Experts said that the government should pay more attention to ensuring quality education in the existing universities to cope with rising world standards.
As per the Strategic Plan for Higher Education (SPHE) in Bangladesh: 2017–2030, new universities will be set up as enrolment in the universities would increase. SPHE 2006 projected that between 1,84,548 and 3,69,095 students would be enrolled in the public universities by 2026.
In view of a fast growing number of graduates, it was proposed that the higher education participation rate of 20 per cent in contrast to the existing 4.04 per cent would be the target to be achieved by the year 2026.
