Dhaka Central University seeks 100 acres for permanent campus
Dhaka Central University has sought 100 acres of land from the government to set up a permanent campus and construct infrastructure. It has requested the allocation in an area near a metro rail station, Purbachal New Town or any other suitable location. Dhaka Central University has also submitted a request for the necessary government funding for land acquisition and construction.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Nurul Islam has submitted the requests in a letter recently sent to the Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education.
The vice-chancellor has also sent another letter to the secretary proposing the introduction of nine new departments to start up academic activities at the university. The information was received from university and ministry sources.
In February, the government issued an ordinance establishing Dhaka Central University. The ordinance states that seven colleges in the capital will operate as affiliated institutions of the Central University. Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Titumir College, Government Bangla College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College and Kabi Nazrul Government College will admit their students this year as affiliated colleges for the 2025-26 academic year.
The university will run the seven affiliated colleges somewhat in the style of the National University. However, unlike other public universities, Dhaka Central University will admit their students through their admission tests. Hence, the university has applied to the government for the introduction of new departments or disciplines and allocation of land.
In the letter proposing the introduction of academic disciplines, the vice-chancellor said, the university administration had proposed to launch the educational and research activities in nine timely departments after analysing the country's current and future labour market, technological transformation, healthcare, food security, climate adaptation and economic needs.
The proposed departments are Nursing; Data Science and Artificial Intelligence; Climate Change and Disaster Management; Tourism and Hospitality Management; Cyber Security; Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering; Renewable Energy and Blue Economy; Bioinformatics and Systems Biology; and GIS and Remote Sensing.
The vice-chancellor said in the letter that the curricula for each department would be developed in accordance with the guidelines of the University Grants Commission and Outcome Based Education framework.
Dhaka Central University was established with the aim of producing skilled human resources, taking higher education to global standards and developing a merit- and skill-based workforce. With this objective, the university has set a goal of conducting education and research activities at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in specialised, career-oriented and timely subjects based on professional, vocational and economic needs.
The vice-chancellor requested administrative approval, creation of necessary posts and allocation of funds to launch education and research activities in these departments or disciplines.
As it does not have a permanent campus, Dhaka Central University is currently running their operations from a rented house in Baridhara DOHS in the capital.
In another letter to the education secretary, the vice-chancellor said, establishing a permanent campus and constructing infrastructure were essential for fully launching the academic and administrative activities of the new public university and conducting education and research.
The vice-chancellor has sought 100 acres of land for the campus in a location near a metro rail station, Purbachal New Town or another suitable area. He has also requested that the government should arrange the necessary funds for land acquisition and construction.
Dhaka Central University Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Nurul Islam told Asia Post, “We have applied to the government to launch nine departments. These may also be introduced in phases. At the same time, we have applied to the government for 100 acres of land to establish the campus.”