University of Barishal

University of Barishal (Bengali: বরিশাল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়, Boriśhāl Biśbôbidyālôẏ; also known as Barishal University or simply BU) is a public university located in Barishal, a divisional city in southern Bangladesh.[2] It is the country's 33rd public university.

University of Barishal
বরিশাল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়
Former name
University of Barisal (2011-2018)
Motto
জ্ঞানই শক্তি
Motto in English
Knowledge is power
TypePUBLIC
Established2011; 13 years ago (2011)
Academic affiliation
UGC
Budget 99.997m[1]
ChancellorPresident Mohammed Shahabuddin
Vice-ChancellorProfessor Dr. Shuchita Sharmin
Provost4 provosts
Dean6
Academic staff
210 (2024)
Administrative staff
273 (2024)
Students9300 (2024)
Location
Kornokathi (Dhaka-Patuakhali Hwy), Barisal
,
8200
,
22°39′36″N 90°21′43″E / 22.6599°N 90.3620°E / 22.6599; 90.3620
CampusSuburban (50 acres)
LanguageEnglish, Bengali
Websitebu.ac.bd

The university was established in 2011 and began academic activities at undergraduate level in six departments under four faculties on 24 January 2012. The university offers degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The university houses 25 academic departments under six faculties, where 24 departments are currently providing postgraduate degrees. Every year almost 1,500 students are admitted to undergraduate programs in the university. The university started its academic activities at the temporary campus at Barishal Zilla School and then shifted to its permanent campus. The permanent suburban campus of 50 acres of the university is located in Barisal Sadar Upazila beside Dhaka-Patuakhali Highway on the bank of Kirtankhola river.

Location

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University of Barishal is situated in the district of Barishal under Barishal Division. It is located at Karnakathi on the eastern bank of the Kirtonkhola river beside the Barishal-Patuakhali highway about 2 kilometers from the center of Barishal City. The university campus is spread over 50 acres of land.

History

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Barisal University Lake view

Demand for a university in the area was first made in 1960 before the independence of Bangladesh. In 1973, then-Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared he wished to establish a university in Barishal during a rally held in the city. President Ziaur Rahman made a similar statement concerning establishing a university in Barishal on 23 November 1978, at a rally in Barishal Circuit House. In 1990s, former president Abdur Rahman Biswas also made a statement for the establishment of the university.

After three decades, following strong demand from the people of Barisal, the proposal was passed in ECNEC on 20 November 2008, by then Caretaker Government. The law of the University of Barishal has been amended and passed by the National Assembly of Bangladesh on 16 June 2010. On 22 February 2011, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction of a building of the university. The university officially started functioning from the first day of July 2011 in a temporary campus at Barisal Zilla School. Educational activities were inaugurated by Minister for Education Nurul Islam Nahid on 24 January 2012, in the temporary campus of the university. President Zillur Rahman and Professor Dr. Md. Harunor Rashid Khan, from University of Dhaka adorned the chairs of the Founder Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor respectively.

The construction of the main campus started in 2012 which is located at Karnakathi on the eastern bank of the Kirtankhola river in Barisal Sadar Upazila. Tk. 900  million was sanctioned to construct the university on 50 acres of land, including 12 acres of private and 38 acres public land.

In academic year 2011–2012 around 400 students were enrolled in six inaugural departments - English, Management, Marketing, Economics and Mathematics.[2][3]

Campus

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The university campus covers an area of 50 acres, and is landscaped around the Kirtankhola river with field areas and plants making the campus a natural arboretum. Facilities include academic buildings, administration building, auditorium, library, computer centre, workshop, research laboratories, halls of residence, teachers' quarter, mosque etc. The university has inside its boundaries a bank, a canteen and a large auditorium.[4]

Transportation

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The university runs its own regular bus service to and from the city to facilitate frequent commuting of the students residing there. Friday and Saturday are weekly holidays. The university own single and doubled-decker buses as well as microbuses to facilitate transport of students, staff and faculty members.

Medical Center

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The University Medical Center is equipped for primary care but serious cases are referred to a Medical college hospital (Sher -E -Bangla Medical College Hospital) which is about 4 kilometres away.

Sports and entertainment

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The university provides facilities for football, cricket, volleyball, table tennis etc. The students play tennis, badminton and other games as well. The students arrange debate, cultural show etc. The annual sports events are arranged at University Playground.

Library

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The library has more than 20,000 books and hundreds of journals and periodicals in its collection. Approximately 150 students can use these facilities at a time.[4]

Halls of residence

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There are four dormitories for students.

BU Campus
Barishal University entrance
View from the academic building
Barishal University academic building
View from the highway
Barishal University Campus at night
Barishal University Students and faculty buses
Double-decker students' bus
Bangobondhu Hall
Sheikh Hasina Hall
Play ground view

Administration

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According to the laws of University of Barishal, the university is mainly governed by two bodies; the Syndicate and the Academic Council, both chaired by vice chancellor. The position of the chancellor is chaired by the President of Bangladesh and currently held by President Abdul Hamid.[5] Currently former treasurer Professor Dr. Mohammad Badruzzaman Bhuiyan has been appointed as acting vice chancellor after Md. Sadequl Arefin's term has ended in 2023. Founder chancellor and vice chancellor were President Zillur Rahman and Prof. Dr. Md. Harunor Rashid Khan.

Vice chancellor

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List of vice-chancellors
Sequence Name Took over Transfer the responsibility
1 Prof. Harunor Rashid Khan 2011 2015
2 S. M. Imamul Huq 2015 2018
3 A. K. M. Mahbub Hasan (Routine-Charge) 2018 2019
4 Md. Sadequl Arefin 2019 2023
5 Prof. Dr. Mohammad Badruzzaman Bhuiyan (Routine-Charge) 2023 2024
5 Prof. Dr. Mohammad Badruzzaman Bhuiyan 2024 2024[6]
6 Professor Dr. Shuchita Sharmin 2024

Academics

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Academic activities of the university began with undergraduate classes for the 2011–12 academic year on 24 January 2012. The University of Barishal initially started with four faculties (Arts, Science, Social Sciences and Business Studies) and six departments: Mathematics, Management Studies, Marketing, Economics, Sociology, and English. The university currently has 25 departments in 6 faculties.[7] Both undergraduate and graduate degrees are provided from all the departments. The total number of undergraduate enrollment in all departments for 2023–24 academic year was 1570.The medium of instruction is English, which is the official medium of examination in effect in all departments of the university except in the department of Bangla. Bangla is occasionally followed while teaching.

Faculty Department Establishment Academic Programs Seat (Undergraduate)
Faculty of Science and Engineering Mathematics 2012 B.Sc, M.Sc 80
Chemistry 2014 B.Sc, M.Sc 80
Computer Science & Engineering 2014 B.Sc, M.Sc 50
Physics 2015 B.Sc, M.Sc 80
Geology and Mining 2015 B.Sc, M.Sc 60
Statistics 2018 B.Sc, M.Sc 40
Faculty of Bio-Sciences Soil and Environmental Sciences 2013 B.Sc, M.Sc 80
Botany 2014 B.Sc, M.Sc 80
Coastal Studies and Disaster Management 2017 B.Sc, M.Sc 30
Biochemistry and Biotechnology 2018 B.Sc, M.Sc 40
Faculty of Business Studies Accounting and Information System 2013 BBA, MBA, EMBA 75
Finance and Banking 2014 BBA, MBA, EMBA 75
Marketing 2012 BBA, MBA, EMBA 75
Management Studies 2012 BBA, MBA, EMBA 75
Faculty of Arts and Humanities English 2012 BA, MA 70
Bangla 2013 BA, MA 70
Philosophy 2017 BA, MA 50
History and Civilization 2018 BA, MA 50
Faculty of Social Science Economics 2012 BSS, MSS 70
Sociology 2012 BSS, MSS 70
Public Administration 2013 BSS, MSS 70
Political Science 2014 BSS, MSS 70
Mass Communication & Journalism 2018 BSS, MSS 30

Social Work

2023 BSS, MSS 30
Faculty of Law Law 2014 LLB, LLM 70

References

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  1. ^ "Barisal University started". Protom Alo. 21 February 2022. Archived from the original on 28 February 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b যেমন হবে বরিশাল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় [Barisal University]. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 15 June 2011. Archived from the original on 18 June 2011.
  3. ^ "Barisal University started". Prothom Alo. 25 January 2012. Archived from the original on 28 February 2012.
  4. ^ a b "University of Barisal". bu.ac.bd. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  5. ^ বাংলাদেশ জাতীয় তথ্য বাতায়ন – গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ সরকার (in Bengali). Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  6. ^ "এবার পদত্যাগ করলেন বরিশাল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের উপাচার্য". The Business Standard. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  7. ^ "University of Barisal". bu.ac.bd. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
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22°39′35″N 90°21′45″E / 22.65969°N 90.36237°E / 22.65969; 90.36237