Jahangirnagar University ( JU) is a publicly funded university located in

Savar, Dhaka Savar ( bn, সাভার) is a city in central Bangladesh, located in Dhaka District in the division of Dhaka. It is the closest city from Dhaka. It is also a part of Greater Dhaka conurbation which forms the Dhaka megacity. About 296,851 ...

, Bangladesh. It is the only fully residential university in Bangladesh. It operated as a project until 1973, when the 'Jahangirnagar Muslim University Act' was amended as the 'Jahangirnagar University Act'. In 2019, the university had 17,212 students, 836 teachers, and 2,018 other employees. It has been ranked third several times in national public university rankings. JU is the fourth oldest generalized public university in Bangladesh. Also, it has fourth largest university campus in Bangladesh.

History

Jahangirnagar University was formally launched on 12 January 1971 under the Jahangirnagar Muslim University Ordinance, 1970 and this day is observed as ''University Day''. Initially, it was named ''Jahangirnagar Muslim University'', and the plan was to operate the university like Aligarh Muslim University. But after the independence of Bangladesh, its name changed to ''Jahangirnagar University'' under the ''Jahangirnagar University Act' 1973''. The university was established on 20 August 1970 by the Jahangirnagar Muslim University Ordinance of the government of Pakistan. Its first vice-chancellor,

Mafizuddin Ahmed Mafizuddin Ahmed ( – 26 September 1997) was a Bangladeshi educationist and scientist. He served as the first vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University. He was a founding fellow of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences. Early life and educatio ...

(PhD in chemistry, Penn State) took up office on 24 September 1970. The first group of students, a total of 150, were enrolled in four departments: Economics, Geography, Mathematics, and Statistics. Its formal inauguration was delayed until 12 January 1971, when the university was launched by Rear Admiral S. M. Ahsan, the chancellor.

Jahangirnagar University Act of 1973

ACT NO. XXXIV OF 1973, an act to repeal the Jahangirnagar Muslim University Ordinance, 1970 and to provide for reconstitution and reorganisation of the Jahangirnagar Muslim University.

Location and campus

The university stands on the west side of the Asian Highway, popularly known as the Dhaka-Aricha Road, and is 32 kilometres away from the capital. Spread over an area of 697.56 acres (2.8 km²), the campus surrounded by the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) on the south, and the

Savar Savar ( bn, সাভার) is a city in central Bangladesh, located in Dhaka District in the division of Dhaka. It is the closest city from Dhaka. It is also a part of Greater Dhaka conurbation which forms the Dhaka megacity. About 296,851 ...

Cantonment on the northeast, on the north of which is the National Monument ( Jatiyo Smriti Soudho) and a large dairy farm on the east. JU is considered as the most beautiful university in Bangladesh. The topography of the land with its gentle rise and plains is pleasing to the eyes. The water features sprawled around the campus make an excellent habitat for the winter birds that flock in every year in the thousands and consequently, it is a site frequented by many bird watchers. On 19 January 2017, the university arranged a bird fair in its Zahir Rayhan auditorium. The ''Shahid Minar'' (martyrs' monument) of JU is the tallest in Bangladesh, 71 feet high and made of ceramic bricks on a base 52 feet in circumference. The height signifies the war of independence fought in 1971 and the circumference refers to the language movement of 1952. It is designed by architect Robiul Hossain. The university is an autonomous body managed by an executive council known as 'The Syndicate'. Its statutes need ratification by the Senate of the university, which meets at least once a year to do the same. The Senate passes the annual budget of the university, reviews its academic matters, and elects a panel of three nominees for the position of its vice-chancellor once every four years. the selection and appointment are made by the president of Bangladesh, who is the chancellor of the university. The chancellor also appoints the pro-vice-chancellor and the treasurer of the university.

List of vice-chancellors

The first vice chancellor,

, was appointed in 1970.

Academics

Jahangirnagar University is the only university in Bangladesh which preserves about 50% of the total seats for female students.

Faculties

There are 36 departments under six faculties. Faculty of

Mathematical 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 ...

and

Physical Sciences Physical science is a branch of natural science that studies non-living systems, in contrast to life science. It in turn has many branches, each referred to as a "physical science", together called the "physical sciences". Definition Phy ...

* Department of Chemistry * Department of Computer Science and Engineering * Department of Environmental Sciences * Department of

Geological Sciences Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ea ...

* Department of Mathematics * Department of

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 ...

* Department of Statistics Faculty of

Social Sciences 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 so ...

* Department of

Anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including past human species. Social anthropology studies patterns of be ...

* Department of

Economics Economics () is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work. Microeconomics analyzes ...

* Department of

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, an ...

and Environment * Department of Government and Politics * Department of

Public Administration Public Administration (a form of governance) or Public Policy and Administration (an academic discipline) is the implementation of public policy, administration of government establishment (public governance), management of non-profit est ...

* Department of

Urban and Regional Planning Urban planning, also known as town planning, city planning, regional planning, or rural planning, is a technical and political process that is focused on the development and design of land use and the built environment, including air, water, ...

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 ...

and

Humanities Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture. In the Renaissance, the term contrasted with divinity and referred to what is now called classics, the main area of secular study in universities at the t ...

* Department of

Archaeology Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landsca ...

* Department of Bangla * Department of English * Department of

Drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...

and Dramatics * Department of Fine Arts * Department of

History History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

* Department of

International Relations International relations (IR), sometimes referred to as international studies and international affairs, is the scientific study of interactions between sovereign states. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities between states—such a ...

* Department of

Journalism Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the " news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree. The word, a noun, applies to the occupation (pro ...

and Media Studies * Department of Philosophy Faculty of

Biological Sciences Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary ...

* Department of

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 ...

* Department of

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 ...

and

Molecular Biology Molecular biology is the branch of biology that seeks to understand the molecular basis of biological activity in and between cells, including biomolecular synthesis, modification, mechanisms, and interactions. The study of chemical and physi ...

* Department of

Biotechnology Biotechnology is the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services. The term ''biotechnology'' was first used ...

and Genetic Engineering * Department of Microbiology * Department of Pharmacy * Department of

Public Health Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...

and Informatics * Department of

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 kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and ...

Faculty of Business Studies * Department of Accounting and

Information Systems An information system (IS) is a formal, sociotechnical, organizational system designed to collect, process, store, and distribute information. From a sociotechnical perspective, information systems are composed by four components: task, people ...

* Department of Finance and

Banking A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets. Becau ...

* Department of

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 ...

* Department of

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 ...

Faculty of

Law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...

* Department of Law and Justice

Institutes

There are four institutes for specialised research and training: * Institute of Business Administration (E Unit) Jahangirnagar University (IBA-JU) started as the university's Department of Business Administration (DBA) in 1991. This institute is the first in

Bangladesh Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...

to offer an undergraduate degree in business. It offers a four-year course of study leading to a

Bachelor of Business Administration Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) is a bachelor's degree in business administration awarded by colleges and universities after completion of undergraduate study in the fundamentals of business administration and usually including advanced ...

(BBA) degree, and an eighteen-month post-graduate

Master of Business Administration A Master of Business Administration (MBA; also Master's in Business Administration) is a postgraduate degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as accoun ...

(MBA) program. Since May 2012, there is a Weekend MBA programme for working professionals. As of October 2015, the institute admits 50 students every year to its undergraduate programme. IBA-JU offers finance, marketing, and human resource management as majors. IBA-JU has seven student organisations such as Infusion-The Cultural Club of IBA-JU, Communic, IBA-JU Business Club, IBA-JU Social Welfare Club, Envision:IBA-JU Photography Club, IBA-JU Sports Club and IBA-JU Debating Club. *

Institute of Information Technology An institute of technology (also referred to as: technological university, technical university, university of technology, technological educational institute, technical college, polytechnic university or just polytechnic) is an institution of te ...

(A Unit) was established in 2009. * Bangabandhu Institute of Comparative Literature and Culture(C Unit) *

Institute of Remote Sensing and GIS An institute is an organisational body created for a certain purpose. They are often research organisations (research institutes) created to do research on specific topics, or can also be a professional body. In some countries, institutes can ...

provides postgraduate degrees. Wazed Miah Science Research Centre

Student life

With sixteen residential halls ( and new six: ready to inaugurate), Jahangirnagar University is mandated to provide residential accommodation to every student with separate halls for the female students. Each hall has its own administration system headed by a provost and is equipped with facilities such as playgrounds, rooms for indoor games, dining halls etc.

Halls/dorms

Halls for male students

* Al Beruni Hall: the oldest dormitory of the campus, named after Abū Rayḥān al-Bīrūnī; it has an extension building. * Mir Mosharrof Hossain Hall: named after

Mir Mosharraf Hossain Mir Mosharraf Hossain ( bn, মীর মশাররফ হোসেন; 1847–1912) was a Bengali writer, novelist, playwright and essayist. He is considered to be the first major writer to emerge from the Muslim society of Bengal, and one ...

. * A. F. M. Kamaluddin Hall: named after one of the ex-vice-chancellors of Jahangirnagar University A.F.M. Kamaluddin, a geographer, who died prematurely. * Shaheed Salam Barkat Hall: named after two language martyrs of the Bengali Language Movement. * Mowlana Bhashani Hall: named after Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani. * Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall: named after the first President of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu

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 Bengali politi ...

. * Shahid Rafiq Jabbar Hall: named after two language martyrs of Bengali Language Movement. * Bishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore Hall: named after kobiguru

Rabindranath Tagore Rabindranath Tagore (; bn, রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর; 7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941) was a Bengali polymath who worked as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer and painter. He resh ...

Halls for female students

* Nawab Faizunnesa Hall: named after the educator Nawab Faizunnesa Choudhurani (1834–1903). * Fajilatunnesa Hall: named after the first Bengali female graduate in mathematics from

University of Calcutta 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, ...

. * Jahanara Imam Hall: named after Jahanara Imam * Pritilata Hall: named after

Pritilata Waddedar Pritilata Waddedar (5 May 1911 – 24 September 1932) was an Indian revolutionary nationalist from the Indian subcontinent who was influential in the Indian independence movement. After completing her education in Chittagong and Dhaka, she att ...

* Begum Khaleda Zia Hall: named after

Khaleda Zia Khaleda Zia (; born Khaleda Khanam Putul in 1945) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from March 1991 to March 1996, and again from June 2001 to October 2006. She was the first female prime minister of Ba ...

, former prime minister of Bangladesh * Sheikh Hasina Hall: named after

Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina Wazed (''née'' Sheikh Hasina ; ; bn, শেখ হাসিনা ওয়াজেদ, Shēkh Hasinā, , born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh since January 2 ...

, prime minister of Bangladesh * Sufia Kamal Hall: named after kobi

Sufia Kamal Begum Sufia Kamal (20 June 1911 – 20 November 1999) was a Bangladeshi poet, feminist leader, and political activist. She took part in the Bengali nationalist movement of the 1950s and civil society leader in independent Bangladesh. She led fe ...

, a famous poet and a political activist. * Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall: named after

Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib ( bn, শেখ ফজিলাতুন্নেছা মুজিব; 8 August 1930 – 15 August 1975), also known by her daak naam Renu ( bn, রেনু), was the wife of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first Presiden ...

, first lady to the first President of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu

Central Library

Established in 1985, the JU library is equipped with a huge collection of books. Located behind a monument of "Sangshaptak", the library is conveniently placed between the main academic buildings and the dormitories. The entire area has Wi-Fi coverage. There are more than 110,000 books, 14,000 hardbound journals, and 22,000 online journals in the library. The library can accommodate over 170 students at a time. There is a cyber centre on the premises. Airy with ample glass openings, the library is an elegant piece of architecture.

TSC

The teachers-student centre has the prime role in improving the relationship between the teachers and the students of the campus. It is a cultural hub for the university. Cultural groups usually perform drama and cultural programmes at Muktomoncho. Shaptam Chayamancha is a great attraction for students.

Zahir Raihan Auditorium

The "Zahir Raihan Auditorium", located in the TSC complex, is named after Zahir Raihan, a famous Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. There is also a seminar hall for seminars, meetings and cultural programmes. The auditorium has 1500 seats, while the seminar hall can accommodate 250 persons. It is an auditorium fully equipped for drama, cultural activities, international conferences, and other similar events.

Notable people

Alumni

* Faruque Ahmed, theatre and television actor * Kafil Ahmed, poet, singer, and painter of Bangladesh of contemporary age *

Azam Ali Azam Ali ( fa, اعظم علی) is an Iranian peoples, Iranian musician. As of 2013, she has released eight full-length albums with the bands Vas (band), VAS and Niyaz, as well as four solo albums. Biography She was born in Tehran on 3 October ...

, scientist known for having developed a wound dressing * Arindam Banik, IMI Kolkata Director * Selim Al Deen, playwright and theatrical artist *

Shariff Enamul Kabir Shariff Enamul Kabir is a Bangladeshi academic who served as the vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University from 24 February 2009 until May 2012. Early life and education Kabir was born on 28 February 1955 in Gopalganj District, East Pakista ...

, chemist and former VC of JU *

Humayun Faridi Humayun Kamrul Islam (known as Humayun Faridi; 29 May 1952 – 13 February 2012) was a Bangladeshi actor and drama organiser. He worked in television dramas, movies and theatre plays. He won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actor for his ...

, theatrical performer * Fahmida Khatun , policy analyst and economist * Zakia Bari Mamo, model and actress * A A Mamun, physicist * Shibli Mohammad, dancer and choreographer *

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza Mashrafe Bin Mortaza ( bn, মাশরাফি বিন মর্তুজা ; born 5 October 1983), Popularly known as the 'Narail Express', is a Bangladeshi international cricketer and politician who is the former captain in all three form ...

, MP of Bangladesh and ODI captain of Bangladesh National Cricket team * Shajal Noor, model and actor * Mohammad Rafiq, poet awarded Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1987 and Ekushey Padak in 2010 *

Mushfiqur Rahim Mushfiqur Rahim ( bn, মুশফিকুর রহিম; born 9 May 1987) is a Bangladeshi cricketer and the former captain and vice-captain of the Bangladesh national cricket team. He is a right-handed middle-order batsman and wicket-keepe ...

, former test captain * Mohammad Mahfizur Rahman, competed in the 50 m freestyle event at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics * Mim Mantasha, the winner of Lux Channel I Superstar beauty pageant television reality show that was held in 2018 *

Mashrafe Mortaza Mashrafe Bin Mortaza ( bn, মাশরাফি বিন মর্তুজা ; born 5 October 1983), Popularly known as the 'Narail Express', is a Bangladeshi international cricketer and politician who is the former captain in all three form ...

, cricket captain of the national cricket team * Mohammad Salahuddin, former national team cricketer and national team coach * Shahiduzzaman Selim, theatre, television and film actor * Sumaiya Shimu, television actress * Shamim Reza, Poet * Soumitra Sekhar Dey leading Bengali linguist, educationist, and writer

Faculty

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 ...

, national professor *

, university administrator * Mustafa Nurul Islam, national professor and former director general of

Bangla Academy The Bangla Academy ( bn, বাংলা একাডেমি, ) is an autonomous institution funded by the Bangladesh government to foster the Bengali language, literature and culture, to develop and implement national language policy and to d ...

* Hayat Mamud, essayist-poet * Abdullah Al Mamun, Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award-winning physicist * Anu Muhammad, economist and anthropologist * Mohammad Rafiq, poet awarded Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1987 and Ekushey Padak in 2010 * Syed Safiullah, environmental scientist * Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, Shwadhinota Puroshkar winning professor * M A Matin, Professor and Ex Vice-Chancellor

Awards

Prof. Jasim Uddin Ahmad FRSC (London) was awarded Ekushey Padak for his significant contribution in education in 2006.

References

External links

*
Old photographs of the campus
{{Authority control Public universities of Bangladesh Educational institutions established in 1970 1970 establishments in East Pakistan Organisations based in Savar Universities and colleges in Savar

History

Jahangirnagar University Act of 1973

Location and campus

List of vice-chancellors

Academics

Faculties

Institutes

Student life

Halls/dorms

Halls for male students

Halls for female students

Central Library

TSC

Zahir Raihan Auditorium

Notable people

Alumni

Faculty

Awards

See also

References

External links