Proposal to rename Bogura university as ‘Begum Khaleda Zia University’

Local lawmakers have proposed to rename Bogura University as ‘Begum Khaleda Zia University’.

To implement the decision of the lawmakers, the University's VC Professor Dr Md Kudrat-e-Jahan recently sent a proposal to the education ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to rename the university as ‘Begum Khaleda Zia University’.

Sources from the Bogura district administration said, the integrated meeting on the development of Bogura district and Bogura City Corporation was held on July 25 this year.

All parliament members representing Bogura participated in the meeting and State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives was the chief guest of the event.

At the meeting, a decision was taken to rename the versity as ‘Begum Khaleda Zia University’.

Bogura-7 MP Morshed Milton said at the meeting that whatever development Bogura achieved during the tenure of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, there has been no significant development in Bogura or the northern region after that.

Milton said Khaleda Zia had contested elections four times from Bogura and won each time by a large margin. He demanded that the university should be established in a quiet and scenic location with suitable land. He also proposed that the university be renamed after Begum Khaleda Zia.

VC of the University Dr Md Kudrat-e-Jahan told Asia Post, “At the integrated development programme meeting of Bogura City Corporation, seven MPs representing Bogura, the city corporation administrator and other officials in the district jointly took this decision. In order to implement their decision, I have recently sent a proposal to the education ministry and various ministries to rename the university.”

The vice-chancellor refused to elaborate any further on the issue.

Meanwhile, an official of the university branch of the Ministry of Education, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the Bogura University Bill had recently been approved by Parliament after various procedures and scrutiny.

“Now the VC has proposed to rename the university. If the name of the university is to be changed, the proposal will have to be again sent to various ministries for scrutiny. It will have to be approved by Parliament, which is a lengthy process,” he said.

Efforts were made to contact Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, Education Secretary Abdul Khaleque and UGC Chairman Professor Mamun Ahmed for comments. However, they did not pick up their phones. No response was received to messages sent via their mobile numbers either.

As per the data, the Bogura University of Science and Technology Act was enforced in 2001 when the BNP government was in power. However, the law has never been implemented. Approval was also given for two departments at the time, but academic activities could not be launched.

When the BNP came to power after winning the 13th parliamentary election, the Bogura University of Science and Technology Act, 2001 was repealed on July 7. In its place, the Bogura University Bill 2026 was introduced in Parliament.

However, academic activities have yet to start at the university.

VC Dr Md Kudrat-e-Jahan said, “Recently, we prepared an organisational structure for the university and sent a letter to the University Grants Commission seeking approval to launch academic activities.”

“ We have received approval for eight faculties at the university. We have submitted proposals to the UGC seeking two departments under each faculty.”