The government is moving forward to set up two other universities in Shariatpur and Thakurgaon with a view to expanding higher education in the country.
The names of the two universities are- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shariatpur Agriculture University and Thakurgaon University.
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni is likely to move the ‘Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujib Shariatpur Agriculture University Bill, 2023’ and ‘Thakurgaon University Bill, 2023’ in the Parliament today (Sunday).
The two Bills are in the agenda of Sunday’s session of the parliament and these are likely to be passed in the House, said Senior Secretary of Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat KM Abdus Salam,
Earlier on January 9, the Cabinet approved the draft of ‘Sheikh Hasina Agricultural University Act, 2023’ to establish the country’s 9th agricultural university in Shariatpur.
Later, a decision was taken to change the name of the proposed university in Shariatpur as a tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. So, the title of the proposed law has been amended and now the title is ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shariatpur Agriculture University Act, 2023’.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shariatpur University is going to be established following an application submitted by Shariatpur-2 lawmaker and Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Haque Shamim.
The government is also moving forward to set up three more science and technology universities in Narayanganj, Lakshmipur and Satkhira aiming to develop professional expertise in science and technology education.
The ‘Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Narayanganj Bill, 2023’, ‘Lakshmipur Science and Technology University Bill, 2023’ and ‘Satkhira Science and Technology University Bill, 2023’ were passed in the Parliament on Thursday (October 26, 2023).
According to the University Grants Commission (UGC), there are now 58 public universities in the country and academic activities are going on in 54 of the universities.
The number of the public universities would be 63 with these five ones. Besides, there are 113 private universities in the country.
Earlier on August 1, the UGC gave permission to three new public universities to start academic activities from the next year.
The universities are Kurigram Agricultural University, Sunamganj Science and Technology University and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Pirojpur.
The current agriculture universities in the country include- Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) which is the first agricultural university and also the second largest public university of Bangladesh set up in 1961, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sylhet Agricultural University, Khulna Agricultural University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Chittagong Veterinary & Animal Science University, Kurigram Agricultural University,
