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The University of Rajshahi, also known as Rajshahi University or RU ( bn, রাজশাহী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়), is a
public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the ''Öffentlichkei ...
co-educational Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to t ...
research university A research university or a research-intensive university is a university that is committed to research as a central part of its mission. They are the most important sites at which knowledge production occurs, along with "intergenerational kno ...
in Bangladesh situated near the northern Bangladeshi city of
Rajshahi Rajshahi ( bn, রাজশাহী, ) is a metropolis, metropolitan city and a major urban, commercial and educational centre of Bangladesh. It is also the administrative seat of the eponymous Rajshahi Division, division and Rajshahi District ...
in a campus at Motihar, East of the Rajshahi city center. It is the second largest, in terms of academic activities and campus area and also the second oldest, university in Bangladesh. The university's 60 departments are organized into ten faculties. It is considered one of the top research universities in Bangladesh. Researchers of this university have recently contributed a significant amount of effort and played a key role in bringing back medieval Bangladeshi
Muslin Muslin () is a cotton fabric of plain weave. It is made in a wide range of weights from delicate sheers to coarse sheeting. It gets its name from the city of Mosul, Iraq, where it was first manufactured. Muslin of uncommonly delicate handsp ...
fiber. It has a formidable alumnus base around Bangladesh and abroad. Because of its beautiful and well-planned verdurous campus, academic atmosphere and traditional inclination towards outdoor sports, it is popularly known as the Cambridge of the East.


History

The first proposal to establish a university came in 1917, when
Calcutta University The University of Calcutta (informally known as Calcutta University; CU) is a public collegiate state university in India, located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Considered one of best state research university all over India every year, C ...
created the
Sadler Commission Sadler may refer to: * Sadler (surname), people with the surname ''Sadler'' * James Sadler and Sons Ltd English pottery manufacturer * Sadler, Kentucky, United States; an unincorporated community * Sadler, Texas, United States; a city * Sadler repo ...
to assess the university system in
Bengal Bengal ( ; bn, বাংলা/বঙ্গ, translit=Bānglā/Bôngô, ) is a geopolitical, cultural and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal, predom ...
. However, the recommendations of the report had no immediate consequences. The
University of Dhaka The University of Dhaka (also known as Dhaka University, or DU) is a public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the oldest university in Bangladesh. The university opened its doors to students on July 1st 1921. Currently i ...
was established in 1921. Demand for a university in the northern part of East Bengal gained momentum when two universities were set-up quickly in
West Pakistan West Pakistan ( ur, , translit=Mag̱ẖribī Pākistān, ; bn, পশ্চিম পাকিস্তান, translit=Pôścim Pakistan) was one of the two Provincial exclaves created during the One Unit Scheme in 1955 in Pakistan. It was d ...
, using funding diverted from East Bengal, without the establishment of any in the east. Students of
Rajshahi College Rajshahi College ( bn, রাজশাহী কলেজ ''Rajshahi Kôlej'') is the third oldest institution of higher education in Bangladesh. Established in 1873 in Rajshahi city, it is the third oldest college in Bangladesh after Dhaka Col ...
were at the forefront of the movement demanding a new university. Finally,
Rajshahi Rajshahi ( bn, রাজশাহী, ) is a metropolis, metropolitan city and a major urban, commercial and educational centre of Bangladesh. It is also the administrative seat of the eponymous Rajshahi Division, division and Rajshahi District ...
was selected as the home for the second university in East Bengal and the Rajshahi University Act of 1953 (East Bengal Act XV of 1953) was passed by the East Pakistan provincial Assembly on 31 March 1953. Itrat Hossain Zuberi, the principal of Rajshahi College was appointed its first vice-chancellor. Initially, the university was housed in temporary locations, such as the local Circuit House and
Boro Kuthi Boro Kuthi ( bn, বড়কুঠি ) is a historic building in Rajshahi, Bangladesh built by Dutch traders in eighteenth century. The building was also used as the first administrative center for Rajshahi University. The building is now under ...
, an 18th-century Dutch establishment. B B Hindu Academy, a local school, housed the library, teachers' lounge and the medical center. The university started out with 20 professors, 161 students (of which 5 were female) and six departments — Bengali, English, History, Law, Philosophy and Economics. In 1964, the offices moved to the permanent campus. The 1960s was a turbulent period in Bangladesh, when demands for East Pakistani autonomy became stronger. The students and staff of the university started playing an increasing role in politics. On 18 February 1969,
Shamsuzzoha Mohammad Shamsuzzoha (died 1969) was a writer , professor and proctor at Rajshahi University. Shamsuzzoha was the first university teacher in erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) who was killed by the Pakistani Military forces at the eve of 19 ...
, a professor, was killed by the police when he tried to prevent them from shooting student demonstrators. This date is now commemorated as Zoha Day. During the
Bangladesh Liberation War The Bangladesh Liberation War ( bn, মুক্তিযুদ্ধ, , also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, or simply the Liberation War in Bangladesh) was a revolution and War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Benga ...
of 1971, the campus was used as a base by the
Pakistan Army The Pakistan Army (, ) is the Army, land service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the partition of India, Partition of British India, wh ...
. A number of professors, students and officers of the university were killed by the Pakistan army. After independence, a new Act regarding the administration of the university came into being — the Rajshahi University Act, 1973. The post-independence years saw the university grow steadily in student enrolment and size of the academic staff. However the 1980s were turbulent for the university, as the students agitated with other institutions of the country against the military rule of
Hossain Muhammad Ershad Lt. Gen. Hussain Muhammad Ershad ( bn, হুসেইন মুহাম্মদ এরশাদ; 1 February 1930 – 14 July 2019) was a Bangladeshi Army Chief of Bangladesh, Army Chief politician who served as the President of Bangladesh fro ...
. Since the early 1990s, the university has seen relative calm and lowering of session backlogs, though active student politics remains a contentious issue.


Emblem

The circle of the emblem represents the world. An open book is shown in red and gold: red represents one of the colors of the national flag and gold the value of education. The body of the book is blue, the color of the sky, and at the center is a ''shapla'' flower (
Nymphaeaceae Nymphaeaceae () is a family of flowering plants, commonly called water lilies. They live as rhizomatous aquatic herbs in temperate and tropical climates around the world. The family contains nine genera with about 70 known species. Water li ...
), the national flower of Bangladesh.


Campus

The university's main campus is in Motihar, on the eastern side of the city of
Rajshahi Rajshahi ( bn, রাজশাহী, ) is a metropolis, metropolitan city and a major urban, commercial and educational centre of Bangladesh. It is also the administrative seat of the eponymous Rajshahi Division, division and Rajshahi District ...
and a mile from the Bangladeshi coast of the river
Padma The Padma ( bn, পদ্মা ''Pôdma'') is a major river in Bangladesh. It is the main distributary of the Ganges, flowing generally southeast for to its confluence with the Meghna River near the Bay of Bengal. The city of Rajshahi is sit ...
. The campus area is nearly . Access to the walled-off campus is controlled through three security gates. It houses eleven large academic buildings — five for the arts, business studies and
social science Social science is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original "science of soc ...
s, four for the natural and applied sciences and two for agricultural studies.


Rail Line and University Station

The Dhaka-Rajshahi rail line passes through the campus and it has a dedicated station named the University Station. It is near the Shahid Shohrawardy Hall on the southern border of the campus. There is an internal bazar nearby for the students only, called the station bazar.


Gates

There are four gates of the university, three being upon the Dhaka - Rajshahi Highway. The westernmost gate is the Kazla gate which provides access to the Western part of the campus mainly playgrounds and residential areas. The easternmost gate is the Binodpur gate that provides access to the Eastern Part of the campus and the Main gate in between these two provides access to the main administrative and academic portion of the campus. The fourth gate is on the other side of the campus and provides access to the campus from the other side of the city. The main gate used to create an architectural optical illusion while entering or exiting the campus through it as it seemed to the visitor that the more he tries to go nearer the more the Administrative Building goes far away.


Parks, Lakes and Sanctuaries

There is a central park of the university near the Shaheed Minar Complex. It is a small park providing a very good environment and a place for spending leisure for the students and residents of the campus. Rajshahi University Botanical Garden is also a park inside the campus home to some very rare species of trees and plants. There used to be a mini park-like plantation near the main gate but it was cut down during mid 2020s. There are two big lakes inside the campus. One is behind the Shahid Shamsuzzoha Hall popularly known as the Shorobor and another is behind the female hostels known as a part of the Junge Genome Project. Apart from these, there are nearly fifty ponds around the campus. There is a large bird sanctuary inside the campus called the Jungle Genome Project. It is an ecological project of the Zoology Department and it has natural plantations and lakes inside it.


Paris Road

Paris road is a street in the campus which is often considered the signature of the Rajshahi University Campus. It starts from the adjoining point of Kazla Gate road, Paschimpara road and Paris road near the Juberi Guest House and runs straight East from this. Then it keeps going past the mango plantations, Kazla pond and VC's residence and reaches the Shamsuzoha Square. Then from the Shamsuzzoha Square, it goes East past the University Bank, Second Administrative Building, University Central Bus Station, Central Mosque, university park and Shahid Minar Complex and Shahid Smiti Sangrahashala Museum and ends at the gate of the Sher e Bangla Hall.


Murals, Sculptures and Monuments

There are a considerable number of murals on the campus. The Shahid Minar Complex holds two murals one on the background wall of the Open Theatre Stage and another on the background wall of the Shahid Minar's platform. A mural near the Golden Jubilee Tower is a masterpiece artifact made of steel depicting struggle of men and women. Besides these the obelisk of Martyred professor Dr.
Shamsuzzoha Mohammad Shamsuzzoha (died 1969) was a writer , professor and proctor at Rajshahi University. Shamsuzzoha was the first university teacher in erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) who was killed by the Pakistani Military forces at the eve of 19 ...
has a mural depicting him and his famous quote. The Bangabandhu hall, Sher-e-Bangla hall and Syed Ameer Ali Hal have murals of
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ( bn, শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান; 17 March 1920 – 15 August 1975), often shortened as Sheikh Mujib or Mujib and widely known as Bangabandhu (meaning ''Friend of Bengal''), was a Bengalis, Beng ...
,
AK Fazlul Haque AK Fazlul Haque is a politician of Satkhira District and organizer of the Bangladesh Liberation war who was the Member of Parliament of Satkhira-5 constituency at that time. Early life Haque was born in the Satkhira district. His son SM Ata ...
and
Syed Ameer Ali Syed Ameer Ali Order of the Star of India (1849–1928) was an Indian/ British Indian jurist hailing from the state of Oudh from where his father moved and settled down at Bengal Presidency. He was a prominent political leader, and author of a n ...
respectively. Monuments around the campus are the Shaheed Minar, Mass-Graveyard monument and the
Shabash Bangladesh Shabash Bangladesh (Bravo Bangladesh) () is a sculpture in Bangladesh. It is located at Rajshahi University premises. Shabash Bangladesh is another state of the art sculpture created to pay tribute to those killed in the Liberation War of Banglade ...
. The sculptures are the martyred intellectual memorial monument near the central library, Sfulingo in the Shahid Samsuzzoha Hall premises, Martyred Professor Habibur Rahman's sculpture on Shahid Habibur Rahman hall's entrance. There are several memorial monuments and murals around the campus.


Facilities


Museums

The university is the site for the two oldest museums in Bangladesh. They are - the
Varendra Research Museum Varendra Museum ( bn, বরেন্দ্র জাদুঘর) is a museum, research centre, and popular visitor attraction at the heart of Rajshahi and maintained by Rajshahi University in Bangladesh. It is considered the oldest museum i ...
, which is the oldest museum in Bangladesh and the Shahid Smriti Sangrahasala, which is the oldest liberation war museum in Bangladesh. A few miles from the main campus is the
Varendra Research Museum Varendra Museum ( bn, বরেন্দ্র জাদুঘর) is a museum, research centre, and popular visitor attraction at the heart of Rajshahi and maintained by Rajshahi University in Bangladesh. It is considered the oldest museum i ...
,. It is one of the richest repertory of Bengal sculptures in the world. Established in 1910 by Ramaprasad Chanda, the museum became a part of the university in the 1960s when a financial crisis threatened its existence. Under the university, the museum has thrived, adding a
folklore Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging ...
gallery to its impressive collection from ancient and medieval Bengal.


Juberi Guest House

Juberi Guest House is one of the earliest structures on the campus. It is actually a complex of guest house, lounge and café. Juberi House is the home of Rajshahi University Club and it is the center of the political activities of the teachers and fellows. There are four buildings providing caravansary facilities for the guests of the university. It provides gymnasium facilities for the teachers and it has a well maintained lone tennis court


Sport and other facilities for cultural activities

Rajshahi University Stadium seats 30,000. There is a swimming pool with stands for spectators and a gymnasium and indoor stadium situated near the stadium.


Architecture

University of Rajshahi is home to many architectural and artistic landmarks. Most of its academic, cultural, residential and administrative buildings are of modern architectural style. The Shaheed Minar is an important example, complete with a
mural A mural is any piece of graphic artwork that is painted or applied directly to a wall, ceiling or other permanent substrate. Mural techniques include fresco, mosaic, graffiti and marouflage. Word mural in art The word ''mural'' is a Spani ...
designed by Murtaza Bashir. The Senate House is a modern mini-parliament house, has 206 rooms and is fully air-conditioned. It is usually used for meetings of the senate of the university, but it accommodates national and international conferences, seminars and symposia. In front of the Senate House is
Shabash Bangladesh Shabash Bangladesh (Bravo Bangladesh) () is a sculpture in Bangladesh. It is located at Rajshahi University premises. Shabash Bangladesh is another state of the art sculpture created to pay tribute to those killed in the Liberation War of Banglade ...
, one of the largest
war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
memorial sculptures, designed and constructed by
Nitun Kundu Nitya Gopal Kundu (3 December 1935 – 15 September 2006) was a Bangladeshi artist, sculptor and entrepreneur. Kundu played an important role during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. He founded the furniture company Otobi. Early life Ku ...
. The name comes from a poem by Sukanta Bhattacharya of the same name, the last four lines of which are engraved under the structure. Golden Jubilee Tower, a 2003 addition to the university's array of sculptures, commemorates its 50th anniversary. It is right beside the main gate. It has also an open theatre and two beautiful murals. Other well-known buildings include the library and the university mosque. The Department of Fine Arts hosts a sizeable collection of contemporary art, while Varendra Museum has a large collection of ancient and medieval art.


Organization and administration

The university is run according to the Rajshahi University Act, 1973. This Act, passed on 25 September 1973, allows the university considerably more autonomy than most other peer institutions. The president of Bangladesh is the de facto
chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...
, but the role is mainly ceremonial. The highest official after the chancellor is the vice-chancellor, selected by the
senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
of the university every four years. The vice-chancellor, as of June 2017, is
M. Abdus Sobhan M Abdus Sobhan (born 1953) is a former vice chancellor of Rajshahi University, and a professor in the university's Applied Physics and Electronic Engineering Department. Early life Sobhan was born in 1953 in Natore District. Career Sobhan was ...
. Other important officers include the pro vice-chancellor, the
registrar A registrar is an official keeper of records made in a register. The term may refer to: Education * Registrar (education), an official in an academic institution who handles student records * Registrar of the University of Oxford, one of the se ...
, the controller of examinations and the proctor. The proctor is in direct charge of student activities and is the official with most direct contact with the students. The most important statutory bodies of the university are the senate, the academic council and the syndicate. Most of Rajshahi University's funding comes from the government. The Bangladesh University Grants Commission is the body responsible for allocating funds to all
public universities A public university or public college is a university or college that is in owned by the state or receives significant public funds through a national or subnational government, as opposed to a private university. Whether a national university ...
. Students are admitted after they pass the Higher Secondary Exam (HSC exam). In earlier days students partook in entrance examinations, a separate one for each department. This has been a contentious issue, as there used to be only one exam for each faculty, after which students would be allocated to departments according to their result and choice of program. The tuition fees are relatively low; nevertheless, a hike in admission fees, during the 2006–07 session, drew criticism from student bodies. In 2007, the university awarded a total of 340 scholarships, whose annual value is around 1.1 million taka. In addition, there are merit awards given by residential halls, departments and the university itself. Students are eligible for the
Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
's Gold Medal award. All colleges of the northern and southern regions of the country used to be affiliated with University of Rajshahi. However, the administration of colleges across the country was taken over by the National University when it was established in 1992.


List of vice-chancellors

# Itrat Husain Zuberi (6 July 1953 – 30 September 1957) #
Momtazuddin Ahmed Momtazuddin Ahmed ( bn, মমতাজউদ্দিন আহমেদ; 24 December 1903 – 12 September 1971) was a Bangladeshi philosopher and educationist. Early life and education Ahmed was born to a Bengali Muslim family from Brahma ...
(1 October 1957 – 30 August 1965) #
Muhammad Shamsul Huq Muhammad Shamsul Huq ( bn, মুহাম্মদ শামসুল হক; 12 October 1912 – 23 February 2006) was a Bangladeshi academic and minister. He served as an education minister in erstwhile East Pakistan, and became the Minister of ...
(31 August 1965 – 4 August 1969) # Syed Sajjad Hussain (5 August 1969 – 18 July 1971) #
Muhammad Abdul Bari Muhammad Abdul Bari ( bn, মুহাম্মাদ আব্দুল বারি; born October 1953), is a Bangladeshi-born British physicist, writer, teacher, and community leader. He is a former secretary of Muslim Aid, a former chairm ...
(19 July 1971 – 8 January 1972) #
Khan Sarwar Murshid Khan Sarwar Murshid ( bn, খাঁন সারওয়ার মুরশিদ; 1 July 1924 – 8 December 2012) was a Bangladeshi educationist, diplomat and intellectual. Early life and education Sarwar Murshid was born on 1 July 1 ...
(1 February 1972 – 3 August 1974) #
Mazharul Islam Muzharul Islam (25 December 1923 – 15 July 2012) was a Bangladeshi architect, urban planner, educator and activist. He is considered as the Grand Master of regional modernism in South Asia. Islam is the pioneer of modern architecture in Ban ...
(4 August 1974 – 18 September 1975) #
Syed Ali Ahsan Syed Ali Ahsan ( bn, সৈয়দ আলী আহসান; 26 March 1922 – 25 June 2002) was a Bangladeshi poet, writer and university academic. He was awarded Ekushey Padak (1982) and Independence Day Award (1987) by the Government of Bang ...
(27 September 1975 – 22 June 1977) #
Muhammad Abdul Bari Muhammad Abdul Bari ( bn, মুহাম্মাদ আব্দুল বারি; born October 1953), is a Bangladeshi-born British physicist, writer, teacher, and community leader. He is a former secretary of Muslim Aid, a former chairm ...
(7 July 1977 – 17 February 1981) # Makbular Rahman Sarkar (26 February 1981 – 22 February 1982) # Moslem Huda (22 February 1982 – 20 September 1982) #
Abdul Rakib Abdul (also transliterated as Abdal, Abdel, Abdil, Abdol, Abdool, or Abdoul; ar, عبد ال, ) is the most frequent transliteration of the combination of the Arabic word '' Abd'' (, meaning "Servant") and the definite prefix '' al / el'' (, mea ...
(4 October 1982 – 19 March 1988) # Amanullah Ahmed (20 March 1988 – 22 July 1992) # M. Anisur Rahman (22 July 1992 – 22 August 1994) # M. Yusuf Ali (22 August 1994 – 16 February 1997) #
Abdul Khaleque Abdul Khaleque (1 March 1927 – 10 June 2013) was the first Inspector General of Bangladesh Police from 17 April 1971 to 23 April 1973. He was first home secretary of Bangladesh. Early life and career Khaleque was born in a village named Jir ...
(17 February 1997 – 3 August 1999) #
M. Sayeedur Rahman Khan M. Sayeedur Rahman Khan () (born October 6, 1946) is a prominent academic and diplomat from Bangladesh. He is the former High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the UK. and the vice-chancellor of University of Rajshahi Birth and family Khan was born ...
(4 August 1999 – 13 November 2001) # Faisul Islam Farouqui (13 November 2001 – 5 June 2005) # Md. Altaf Hossain (5 June 2005 – 15 May 2008) # Mumnunul Keramat (acting) (16 May 2008 – 28 February 2009) #
M Abdus Sobhan M Abdus Sobhan (born 1953) is a former vice chancellor of Rajshahi University, and a professor in the university's Applied Physics and Electronic Engineering Department. Early life Sobhan was born in 1953 in Natore District. Career Sobhan was ...
(26 February 2009 – 25 February 2013) #
Muhammad Mizanuddin Muhammad Mizanuddin is a Bangladeshi academic. He served as the 22nd Vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University since March 20, 2013. Education and career Professor Mizanuddin passed matriculation exam in 1969 and intermediate exam in 1972. He compl ...
(19 March 2013 – 20 March 2017) #
M Abdus Sobhan M Abdus Sobhan (born 1953) is a former vice chancellor of Rajshahi University, and a professor in the university's Applied Physics and Electronic Engineering Department. Early life Sobhan was born in 1953 in Natore District. Career Sobhan was ...
(7 May 2017 – 6 May 2021) #
Professor Dr. Golam Shabbir Sattar Golam Shabbir Sattar is a Bangladeshi academic. He is the current vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University The University of Rajshahi, also known as Rajshahi University or RU ( bn, রাজশাহী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয ...
(29 August 2021 – present )


Faculties and departments

The university's 58 departments are organised into 12 faculties: Arts, Engineering, Fine Arts, Law, Science, Business Studies, Social Sciences, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Agriculture, Fisheries, Veterinary & Animal Sciences. The Arts and the Law faculties are the oldest, both established in 1953, closely followed by the Faculty of Science (1956) and the Faculty of Engineering (est. 2009). The university's departments represent the traditional studies in arts, commerce, sciences and engineering through programs such as
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
, history,
languages Language is a structured system of communication. The structure of a language is its grammar and the free components are its vocabulary. Languages are the primary means by which humans communicate, and may be conveyed through a variety of met ...
and
linguistics Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...
, economics,
business studies Business studies, often simply called business, is a field of study that deals with the principles of business, management, and economics. It combines elements of accountancy, finance, marketing, organizational studies, human resource management, a ...
,
mathematics Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...
,
applied mathematics Applied mathematics is the application of mathematical methods by different fields such as physics, engineering, medicine, biology, finance, business, computer science, and industry. Thus, applied mathematics is a combination of mathematical s ...
,
physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...
,
computer science & engineering Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) is an academic program at many universities which comprises scientific and engineering aspects of computing. CSE is also a term often used in Europe to translate the name of engineering informatics academic ...
,
chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...
, statistics, geology & mining,
geography Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and ...
,
psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...
,
zoology Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the Animal, animal kingdom, including the anatomy, structure, embryology, evolution, Biological clas ...
,
botany Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek w ...
, etc. The university is increasingly emphasising more specialised programs such as
pharmacy Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it links heal ...
,
biochemistry Biochemistry or biological chemistry is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology, biochemistry may be divided into three fields: structural biology, enzymology and ...
,
information Information is an abstract concept that refers to that which has the power to inform. At the most fundamental level information pertains to the interpretation of that which may be sensed. Any natural process that is not completely random ...
and
communication engineering Telecommunications Engineering is a subfield of electrical engineering which seeks to design and devise systems of communication at a distance. The work ranges from basic circuit design to strategic mass developments. A telecommunication enginee ...
(ICE),
genetics Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms.Hartl D, Jones E (2005) It is an important branch in biology because heredity is vital to organisms' evolution. Gregor Mendel, a Moravian Augustinian friar wor ...
and
breeding Breeding is sexual reproduction that produces offspring, usually animals or plants. It can only occur between a male and a female animal or plant. Breeding may refer to: * Animal husbandry, through selected specimens such as dogs, horses, and ra ...
.


Faculty of Life Sciences

#
Botany Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek w ...
#
Zoology Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the Animal, animal kingdom, including the anatomy, structure, embryology, evolution, Biological clas ...
# Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology # Microbiology #
Clinical Psychology Clinical psychology is an integration of social science, theory, and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and persona ...
#
Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...


Faculty of Arts

Prominent departments in the faculty of
Arts The arts are a very wide range of human practices of creative expression, storytelling and cultural participation. They encompass multiple diverse and plural modes of thinking, doing and being, in an extremely broad range of media. Both hi ...
are # Department of Philosophy # Department of History # Department of English # Department of Bengali # Department of Islamic History and Culture # Department of Arabic # Department of Islamic Studies # Department of Music # Department of Theater # Department of Persian Language and Literature # Department of Urdu # Department of Sanskrit


Faculty of Fine Arts

The Faculty of Fine Arts has 3 departments;


Faculty of Law

The Faculty of Law has two departments: # Department of Law # Department of Law and Land Administration The Department of Law is one of the pioneer institutes for graduate level legal education in Bangladesh as well as in South Asia. It was the first institution in South Asia that offered B.Jur. Honours (Bachelor of Jurisprudence) from the year 1970. Now it offers LLB (Honors), LLM, Evening LLM, MPhil and Ph.D. in the field of Law. It has a great number of alumni and former members of the faculty around the world including former
Chief Justice of Bangladesh The chief justice of Bangladesh ( bn, বাংলাদেশের প্রধান বিচারপতি — ) is the chief amongst the judges of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, and also head of the whole judicial establishments, includ ...
, former
Prime Minister of Bangladesh The Prime Minister of Bangladesh ( bn, বাংলাদেশের প্রধানমন্ত্রী, translit=Bangladesher Prodhanmontri), officially Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh ( bn, গণপ্রজা ...
, current and former ministers and many former and current judges of the apex courts of Bangladesh and many more formidable legal and political minds of the country.
Abul Hasnat Muhammad Qamaruzzaman Abul Hasnat Muhammad Qamaruzzaman (1926 – 3 November 1975) was a Bangladeshi politician, government minister and a leading member of the Awami League. A member of the Mujibnagar Government, Kamaruzzaman was murdered along with Syed Nazrul Islam ...
was a student of this department. The Department of Law and Land Administration was established in the session of 2015–16. It is the pioneer department in Bangladesh in the field of education on Laws relating to land administration, land management and land survey. All core courses of Law are taught here. Graduates of this discipline can apply for all jobs which are for Law graduates, including the positions of Assistant Judge and Judicial Magistrate. They are able to practice as both civil and criminal lawyers and also as Income Tax lawyers. In addition, they are able to apply for jobs in the field of land administration/management. It is currently under consideration that a separate BCS Cadre (Land) may be created and graduates from this discipline will only be able to apply for those jobs. The programs offered by this Department include LLB (Honours), LLM, MPhil and Ph.D. Initiatives are under process to establish a new department in the field of corporate law under this faculty which is going to be the first institution for graduate level education in this field within Bangladesh. This faculty is well known for the innovative environment on its premises. A huge library is provided here for the students and researchers. The Bangladesh code was developed and was given a great shape for practical use under the leadership of a former chairman of this department in 2006. One of the leading debating clubs of the campus belongs to this department. Having a great tradition of mooting, and some nationally popular great legal practitioners as alumni, its Mooting Club RUMCS is well recognized and reputed in Bangladesh.


Faculty of Engineering

The Faculty of Engineering include the following departments # Textile Engineering #
Information Information is an abstract concept that refers to that which has the power to inform. At the most fundamental level information pertains to the interpretation of that which may be sensed. Any natural process that is not completely random ...
and Communication Engineering (ICE) (est. 2000) # Computer Science & Engineering #
Applied Chemistry Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the elements that make up matter to the compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions: their composition, structure, properties, ...
&
Chemical Engineering Chemical engineering is an engineering field which deals with the study of operation and design of chemical plants as well as methods of improving production. Chemical engineers develop economical commercial processes to convert raw materials int ...
# Materials Science and Engineering # Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) (est. 2015) In the late 1990 and 2000s, programs in computer science & engineering and Information & Communication Engineering were introduced. The newest addition to the Faculty of Engineering in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 2015. The university used to have a separate engineering program through the Bangladesh Institute of Technology Rajshahi, which became an independent university:
Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology, commonly known as RUET (রুয়েট), is a PhD granting public research university in Bangladesh. It is one of the oldest public universities in the country that specialises in the field of ...
in 2002. University authorities have decided to merge Applied physics and electronic engineering department with the electrical and electronic engineering department on 5 December 2018.


Faculty of Social Science

The Social Science Faculty has the following departments: # Economics # Political Science # Social Work # Sociology # Mass Communication and Journalism # Information Science & Library Management # Public Administration # Anthropology # Folklore # International Relations


Faculty of Business Studies

Faculty of Business Studies has following departments: #
Finance Finance is the study and discipline of money, currency and capital assets. It is related to, but not synonymous with economics, the study of production, distribution, and consumption of money, assets, goods and services (the discipline of fina ...
# Accounting & Information Systems #
Marketing Marketing is the process of exploring, creating, and delivering value to meet the needs of a target market in terms of goods and services; potentially including selection of a target audience; selection of certain attributes or themes to emph ...
#
Management Studies Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business. Management includes the activities ...
# Banking & Insurance # Tourism & Hospitality Management All of these departments are in the Rabindra Building.


Faculty of Science

Faculty of Science has the following departments: # Mathematics # Physics # Chemistry # Statistics # Biochemistry & Molecular Biology # Pharmacy # Population Science and Human Resource Development (website:http://www.popsru.org) # Applied Mathematics # Physical Education and Sports Sciences Most of these departments are in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th science buildings.


Faculty of Agriculture

Faculty of Agriculture has the following departments: # Agronomy and Agricultural Extension # Crop Science and Technology was established in 2005. It offers a 4-year B.Sc.Ag.(Hons) degree and 18 months
M.S. A Master of Science ( la, Magisterii Scientiae; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree in the field of science awarded by universities in many countries or a person holding such a degree. In contrast to ...
degree. MPhil and
Doctor of Philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common Academic degree, degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields ...
(Ph.D.) degrees are also offered. About 250 students are studying in the department. All of these departments are in the Agricultural Faculty Building. Only 'practical work' is performed in Narikelbaria Campus. Founded in 2000, the Faculty of
Agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...
was formed when a local agricultural college was absorbed into the university.


Faculty of Geosciences

# Geography & Environmental Studies # Geology & Mining


Faculty of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

# Veterinary & Animal Sciences


Faculty of Fisheries

# Fisheries


Institutes

There are six institutes of Rajshahi University. # Institutes of Bangladesh Studies # Institutes of Biological Science # Institute of Business Administration # Institute of Education and Research # Institute of English and Other Languages # Institute of Environmental Science


Affiliating National Professional Academies

# Bangladesh Police Academy.


Affiliating Non-Government Engineering Tech Colleges under Rajshahi University

# Abul Hossain College of Engineering, Rangpur # Advanced Engineering College, Rajshahi # Ashrai Engineering College, Rajshahi # BCMC college of ENGINEERING and TECHNOLOGY, Jashore # Epsilon Engineering College, Rajshahi # Global Institute of Science and Technology, Rajshahi # Imperial College of Engineering, Khulna # KSFL Engineering College, Dinajpur # Pabna Engineering College, Pabna # Rajshahi Engineering Science & Technology college, Rajshahi # Rangpur Engineering College # South East Engineering College, Khulna # TMSS Engineering College, Thengamara (Rangpur Road), Bougra (Website: http://tec.edu.bd/) # United B.Sc. Engineering College


Affiliating Non-Government Agriculture Colleges under Rajshahi University

# Tamaltala Agriculture and Technical College, Natore # International Institute of Applied Science & Technology, Rangpur # Henry Institute of Bioscience and Technology, Sirajganj # Anowara College of Bioscience, Dinajpur # Rajshahi Institute of Biosciences, Rajshahi # Varendra Institute of Biosciences # Udayan College of Bioscience & Technology, Rajshahi(UCBT) # Bhashasoinik Gaziul Haque Institute of Bioscience, Bogura


Student life


Housing

The university has 18 residential halls for students, six for women and eleven for men and one International Dormitory. The halls are named after prominent Bangladeshi historical and cultural figures, some of them from Rajshahi. The largest men's hall is Shahid Habibur Rahman Hall, named after a mathematics professor killed on campus during the 1971 war by the Pakistani Army. The largest women's hall is Monnujan Hall, followed by Begum Rokeya Hall, named after
Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain") is the commonly used spelling of Rokeya's full married name, Rokeya herself is never seen to use her full married name in this English spelling. In much of her correspondence in English, she used just her initials: ...
, a leading figure in women's rights activism in Bengal. The housing system can accommodate more than 10,000 students, which has created a deepening accommodation crisis as the student body has risen to 25,000. Apart from the seat limitations, the amenities of these halls do not always meet decent accommodation standards. This has led to the establishment of many privately owned off-campus "
mess The mess (also called a mess deck aboard ships) is a designated area where military personnel socialize, eat and (in some cases) live. The term is also used to indicate the groups of military personnel who belong to separate messes, such as the o ...
es". The residential halls provide meals, which are subsidised by the university authorities.


Names of halls


Activities

The physical education department of the university has 27 instructors and is equipped with a 25,000-seat stadium, two gymnasiums, one swimming pool, four
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
grounds, one hockey ground, four tennis courts, two basketball courts and a squash court. The Teacher Students Center was designed to be the center of cultural activities of the university. Reception of fresh students, celebration of national holidays, and the annual cultural competition are key cultural events at the campus. The university is home to recitation groups like ''Shwanan'', and drama groups like ''Anushilon'' and the Rajshahi University Drama Association. A vibrant fine arts scene thrives around the Department of Fine Arts, and the campus hosts exhibitions each year. The university has branches of all major national cultural groups, including Udichi and ''Gono Natto Shongstha''. During the three major national days —
Language Movement Day (''Bhasha Andolôn Dibôs'') , nickname = bn, শহীদ দিবস (''Shôhid Dibôs'') , duration = 1 day , frequency = Annual , observedby = Bangladesh and Bengali speakers in India and elsewhere , date = 21 Feb ...
(21 February), Independence Day (26 March) and
Victory Day Victory Day is a commonly used name for public holidays in various countries, where it commemorates a nation's triumph over a hostile force in a war or the liberation of a country from hostile occupation. In many cases, multiple countries may ob ...
(16 December) — the university hosts public meetings, cultural programs and political activities. On these days, students and teachers, going barefoot, congregate around the Shaheed Minar and pay their respect. During the major Muslim religious occasions of Eid, the university is usually deserted as students go home to be with their families. Other religiously important days like Shabe-barat are observed through discussions and religious activities. The major Hindu festival celebrated in the university is
Saraswati Puja Vasant Panchami, also called Saraswati Puja in honor of the Hindu goddess Saraswati, is a festival that marks the preparation for the arrival of spring. The festival is celebrated in Indian religions in different ways depending on the region. ...
Saraswati Saraswati ( sa, सरस्वती, ) is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is one of the Tridevi, along with the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati. The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a go ...
, the
goddess A goddess is a female deity. In many known cultures, goddesses are often linked with literal or metaphorical pregnancy or imagined feminine roles associated with how women and girls are perceived or expected to behave. This includes themes of s ...
of knowledge, is worshiped in a central location as well as individually in many residential halls. The Bengali new year, '' Pohela Baisakh'' is also observed with much pomp.


Notable alumni

''University of Rajshahi alumni'' *


Incidents and controversies

During the 1980s, the four-year honors course took as long as eight years due to the session backlogs, resulting mainly from conflicts between factions of political groups. Since the early 1990s,
student politics Student activism or campus activism is work by students to cause political, environmental, economic, or social change. Although often focused on schools, curriculum, and educational funding, student groups have influenced greater political e ...
has been calmer, with student body elections not being held for more than a decade. The student groups have been demanding elections whereas others feel student politics should be banned. In late 2004 and early 2005, two professors of Rajshahi University got assassinated within three months: Professor Yunus from the Economics department in December 2004 and Professor Taher from the Geology and Mining department in February 2005. Both murders were suspected to be driven by political motivations. In 2006, the commander of
Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen ("Assembly of Mujahideen--Bangladesh", abbreviated: JMB; bn, জামাত-উল-মুজাহিদীন বাংলাদেশ) is a terrorist organisation operating in Bangladesh. It is listed as a terror group by ...
admitted to the
Rapid Action Battalion Rapid Action Battalion or RAB, is an anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit of the Bangladesh Police. This elite force consists of members of the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh, B ...
interrogators that his operatives carried out the attack on Yunus, as well as the 2004 attack on writer
Humayun Azad Humayun Azad (born Humayun Kabir; 28 April 1947 – 12 August 2004) was a Bangladeshi poet, novelist, short-story writer, critic, linguist, columnist and professor of Dhaka University. He wrote more than sixty titles. He was awarded the Bangl ...
, the murder of another writer, bomb blasts, and attacks on cinemas. Around the same time, a controversy over the hiring of over 500 new employees broke; detractors suggested that they were hired illegally, either in return for money or for political reasons. In 2005,
Muhammad Asadullah Al-Ghalib Muhammad Asadullah Al-Ghalib ( bn, মুহম্মদ আসাদুল্লাহ আল-গালিব; born 15 January 1948) is a Bangladeshi reformist Islamic scholar and former professor of Arabic at the University of Rajshahi. He is ...
, professor of the department of Arabic, was arrested on suspicion of militant activities, but was acquitted from all charges in 2008. In August 2007, six detained professors of the university were temporarily suspended for their involvement in organizing protests that violated Emergency Power Rules, though they were discharged later from allegations and returned to the university. In November 2017, a woman student was abducted from the university campus, sparking protests by students demanding her rescue and improved security on the campus."Rajshahi University students besiege VC’s residence protesting student abduction,"
18 November 2017, ''Daily Sun'' (daily-sun.com), Bangladesh
In July 2018 protests and counter-violence erupted at various universities over the " quota reform movement," which sought to change the quota system that allocated 56% of Bangladesh government jobs to specific "entitled" classes. The vice-chancellor, Professor M. Abdus Sobhan, dismissed the quota-reform movement as an "antigovernmental movement with a motive to carry out sabotage.""Rajshahi police saw nothing!"
9 July 2018 '' Daily Star'', Bangladesh
The student and quota-reform movement leader Toriqul Islam, and 15 others, were attacked during their protest march, 2 July 2018, by opposing students. The '' Daily Star,'' which filmed the incident, identified 10 of the attackers as leaders and activists of the
Bangladesh Chhatra League The Bangladesh Chhatra League ( bn, বাংলাদেশ ছাত্রলীগ; translation: Bangladesh Students' League; BSL), formerly known as the East Pakistan Student League, often simply called the Chhatra League, is a students' p ...
, a pro-
Awami League In Urdu language, Awami is the adjectival form for '' Awam'', the Urdu language word for common people. The adjective appears in the following proper names: *Awami Colony, a neighbourhood of Landhi Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan *Awami Front, wa ...
(Bangladesh's ruling party) student organization. Video footage and photos published in Bangladeshi media showed BCL men with sticks, bamboo poles, a dagger and a hammer beating Toriqul, who suffered a broken leg and severe head injury. Several police officers standing nearby (unaware the incident was being filmed) did not intervene until the attack was finished, then took the victim to hospital without arresting any of the attackers, publicly denying it was anything more than a "scuffle." University authorities declined to investigate, for lack of a filed complaint. Images of the attack, distributed on social media, sparked widespread criticism over police and university administration inaction."Injured quota protester Tariqul moved to Dhaka,"
8 July 2018, '' Dhaka Tribune''
"Quota reform activist Toriqul denied treatment in govt hospital,"
6 July 2018, '' Daily Prothom Alo''
"Injured RU quota reformist Toriqul being brought to Dhaka,"
8 July 2018, '' Daily Prothom Alo''
Despite student Toriqul's unresolved major injuries, the university's
Rajshahi Medical College Rajshahi Medical College (RMC) is a public medical school located in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The college is affiliated to Rajshahi Medical University. It was the second such institution in erstwhile East Pakistan after Dhaka Medical College. It ...
Hospital discharged him 5 July 2018, forcing his doctor to arrange for immediate surgery elsewhere."Injured quota reform leader Toriqul Islam being brought to Dhaka,"
8 July 2018 '' Daily Star'', Bangladesh


Gallery

File:Main gate of university of rajshahi.jpg, Main Gate File:Paris road rajshahi.JPG, Paris Road File:Medical Center, University of Rajshahi (1).jpg, Medical Center File:Rajshahi University Stadium.jpg, Stadium File:Website Mural RU.jpg, alt=Website Mural, Website Mural File:Swiming phool, rajshahi university.jpg, Swimming Pool File:TSCC, University of Rajshahi (1).jpg, TSCC File:Railline, inside of rajshahi university.jpg, Rail Line


See also

*
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, commonly known by the acronym BUET, is a public technological research university in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Founded in 1876 as the Dacca Survey School, it is the oldest institution for the study ...
(BUET) *
Bangladesh University of Textiles Bangladesh University of Textiles, commonly referred to as BUTEX (), is a public university in Bangladesh, situated in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). It is a non-profit public higher-education institution located in the urban setting of ...
(BUTEX) *
Islamic University, Bangladesh , native_name_lang = Bengali , image = Iub mainGate.jpg , image_upright = 1.0 , image_size = 200px , image_alt = Main gate of Islamic University, Bangladesh , caption ...
(IU) Kushtia *
Islamic University of Technology Islamic University of Technology ( bn, ইসলামিক ইউনিভার্সিটি অব টেকনোলজি), commonly known as IUT, is an international university located in Gazipur, Bangladesh. IUT offers undergraduate ...
(IUT) *
List of universities in Bangladesh Universities in Bangladesh are mainly categorized into three differential types: public (government owned and subsidized), private (private sector owned universities), and international (operated and funded by international organizations such a ...
*
University of Dhaka The University of Dhaka (also known as Dhaka University, or DU) is a public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the oldest university in Bangladesh. The university opened its doors to students on July 1st 1921. Currently i ...


Notes


References

* . * . * .


External links


Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajshahi (University) Educational institutions established in 1953 Public universities of Bangladesh 1953 establishments in East Pakistan Organisations based in Rajshahi