University of Dhaka
Coordinates: 23°44.10'N 90°23.45'E? / ?23.735°N 90.39083°E? / 23.735; 90.39083
University of Dhaka
Motto ("Truth Shall Prevail")
Established 1921
Type Public, Coeducational
Chancellor Mohammad Zillur Rahman, President of Bangladesh
Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique
Academic staff 1,345
Students 30,000
Location Dhaka, Bangladesh
Campus Urban, 600 acres (2.43 km²)
Website www.univdhaka.edu
The University of Dhaka (commonly referred to as Dhaka University or just DU)( Ðhaka Bishshobiddalôe) is the oldest[1] and the largest university in Bangladesh with more than 32,000 students and 1,600 teachers. The University of Dhaka is a public university situated in the heart of Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh.
The University of Dhaka demonstrated an inherent strength in its activities during its eventful and often critical existence since it was established in 1921. Today, the university provides trained human resources of Bangladesh engaged in education, science and technology, administration, diplomacy, mass communication, politics, trade and commerce, and industrial enterprises in all sectors.
University of Dhaka is one of the leading research institutes in Bangladesh as, according to WoS (Web of Science), research in Bangladesh is dominated by two institutes: the University of Dhaka and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) publishing 18% and 17% of all Bangladesh's publications, respectively.
It is the only university in Bangladesh to have been listed in AsiaWeek's listing of best Asian Universities in 2000 (64th in the overall category of 77 participating multi-disciplinary universities) and 1999 (37th) rankings.
Contents
* 1 History
 |
* 2 Academic divisions:Faculties & Institutions
* 3 Research activities
o 3.1 Journals
* 4 Bureaus and Research Centers
* 5 Facilities
o 5.1 Trusts, foundations and scholarship programmes
o 5.2 Halls of residence
o 5.3 Library
o 5.4 The University of Dhaka Medical Centre
o 5.7 Sports and extracurricular activities
+ 5.7.1 Intramural and extramural programme (games and sports)
o 5.8 Cafeteria
o 5.9 Transport
* 6 Culture and Activities
* 7 Performance at games and sports
* 8 Ranking
* 9 Admission Procedure
* 10 Historical Events
o 10.1 East Pakistan era
o 10.2 War of Liberation
* 11 Dhaka University Alumni Association
* 12 Alumni and Faculty Members
History
Main article: History of University of Dhaka
Nawab Ali Chowdhury , one of the proposers of University of Dhaka
Curzon Hall - House of Science Faculties
The University of Dhaka was established in 1921 under the Dacca University Act 1920 of the Indian Legislative Council, it is modelled after British universities. Academic activities started on July 1, 1921 with 3 faculties, 12 teaching departments, 60 teachers, 847 students and 3 residential halls.
It is believed that a combination of political, social and economic compulsions persuaded the government of India to establish a University at Dhaka 'as a splendid imperial compensation' to Muslims for the annulment of the partition of Bengal. The first vice-chancellor of the university, Dr., later Sir, Philip Joseph Hartog, a former academic registrar of the University of London for 17 years and a member of the University of Calcutta Commission, described this phenomenon as the 'political origin' of the institution.
The Partition of Bengal in 1905 provided the Muslim majority community of East Bengal and Assam with a sphere of influence of their own and raised new hopes for the development of the region and advancement of its people. But its annulment, barely six years later due to stiff opposition from the powerful Hindu leadership, was viewed by Muslims as 'a grievous wrong'.
A deputation of high ranking Muslim leaders, including Sir Nawab Khwaja Salimullah, Khan Bahadur Chowdhury Kazimuddin Ahmed Siddiky[1], Nawab Syed Nawab Ali Choudhury and A. K. Fazlul Huq, met Lord Hardinge, the then Viceroy of India, on January 31, 1912 and expressed their fears that the annulment would retard the educational progress of their community. As compensation for the annulment of the Partition, as well as protest against the general antipathy of Calcutta University towards Muslims, the deputation made a vigorous demand for a university at Dhaka. In response, Lord Hardinge acknowledged that education was the true salvation of Muslims and that the government would recommend the constitution of such a university to the Secretary of State. This was confirmed in an official communiqué on February 2, 1912.
Initially, the university under the British administration worked hard to build up an outstanding record of academic achievement, earning for itself the reputation for being the 'Oxford of the East'. The university contributed to the emergence of a generation of leaders who distinguished themselves in different occupations in East Bengal. Until the Partition of India in 1947, it maintained its unique character of being one of the few residential institutions of higher learning in Asia. In 1947, it assumed academic authority over all educational institutions above the secondary level falling within East Bengal. In the process, it became a teaching-cum-affiliating institution. This transformation, coupled with its unprecedented growth in the years that followed, put strains beyond reckoning on its human as well as material resources.[citation needed]
A new phase began in the history of the University with the emergence of the People's Republic of Bangladesh in 1971. This has been a phase of development, expansion and consolidation of earlier gains. The University assumed a central role in the academic pursuits of the region including this new nation.
Academic divisions:Faculties & Institutions
Main article: Academic divisions of University of Dhaka
Dhaka University Faculty of Business Studies
IBA: the premier Business School under Dhaka University
Today, there are 13 faculties, 66 departments, 9 institutes, 34 research centres, 1,600 teachers, about 30,000 students, 18 residential halls and 2 hostels.[5] [1] Two-thirds of the present faculty possesses degrees from universities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. Many of them achieved international reputation for their scholarly works. Many also have the experience of teaching in well-known institutions of higher learning abroad.
Research activities
The University of Dhaka is dedicated to the advancement of learning and is committed to promoting research in all fields of knowledge. New research projects are undertaken every year.
University of Dhaka is one of the leading research institutes in Bangladesh as, according to WoS (Web of Science), research in Bangladesh is dominated by two institutes: the University of Dhaka and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) publishing 18% and 17% of all Bangladesh's publications, respectively.[3]
The University of Dhaka entered into more than 90 international collaboration programmes with renowned university and institutes worldwide.
Journals
Six half-yearly English journals and one ten-monthly Bengali journal are published by six faculties regularly. Ten more research journals are published by individual departments.
* The Journal of Statistical Research (JSR) has been published since 1970. The JSR is published twice a year: in June and December. The areas of interest this journal covers are mathematical statistics, quality control in industries, biostatistics, sampling techniques and computer-intensive statistics with graphics.
* The Journal of Finance and Banking is the half-yearly refereed journal published by the department of finance. The journal has an editorial board of department professors and some outstanding external experts. It contains research-based articles on finance and related fields. Authors are generally of good standing in their academic institutions, industries and government organizations.
*
Facilities
Main article: Facilities at University of Dhaka
Teacher Student Centre
Trusts, foundations and scholarship programmes
The University contains about 220 trusts and foundations offering scholarships and medals to meritorious students. Besides, a large number of scholarships are offered by the university, Dhaka University Alumni Association and the fovernment.
Halls of residence
A dormitory is called a "hall" here. Students admitted to the departments and institutes have either to reside in or be attached to a hall of residence. The university has 13 halls of residence and two hostels for male students; and four halls of residence and one hostel for female students. Hall are headed by a Provost who is assisted by House Tutors and Assistant House Tutors. The administration of a hostel is controlled by a Warden and Assistant Warden(s).
Currently, the construction of a Twin Hall (500+500 capacity) for female students is in progress.
Library
The University Library, housed in three separate buildings, is the largest in Bangladesh. The library holds a collection of more than 617,000 volumes, including bound volumes of periodicals. In addition, it has a collection of over 30,000 manuscripts in various languages and a large number of microfilms, microfiche and CDs. It subscribes to over 300 foreign journals. A complete automation of the system is in the process. The Confined Section of the Main Library building contains numerous rare books.
University of Dhaka Library provides a wide range of scholarly electronic resources but, for licensing reasons, most of them have to be restricted to members of the university. A number of international electronic journals/research databases are available via the PERI programme of INASP. Most of the resources can be accessed within the university network without a password; some of the resources require user ID and password.
Aparajeyo Bangla: A sculpture on the Bangladesh Liberation War, at the center of Dhaka University Campus
Intramural and extramural programme (games and sports)
The Directorate organizes and conducts interdepartment and inter-hall tournaments, individual hall athletics, Dhaka University athletics, and inter-university games and sports. Students participate in national championships in different games and sports for which training and coaching are offered.
Cafeteria
There are some cafeterias in the Dhaka University area. Some of them are historically important. The Madhur Canteen is not only a cafeteria, but also a place of national historical interest.
Transport
University of Dhaka has transport services for its students. Though the number of the buses is not sufficient for the vast student community it is a great service to students. The bus schedule for different parts of the city can be found in the bus depot. The service is always on run (even on university holidays) to help those students who come to university for library or teacher's council
Culture and Activities
Main article: Culture and Activities at University of Dhaka
Students of Charukala (Fine Arts) Institute of University of Dhaka preparing for Pohela Boishakh
Pohela Boishakh (Bengali new year) celebrations in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The University of Dhaka is rich in cultural activities. There are colorful celebrations of different festivals around the year.
Teacher-Student Centre, the only one of its kind in Bangladesh, is an all-campus activity centre designed for relaxation and guidance which came into being in 1961. It has its value as community centre unifying the life of the university and serves as a sponsor of self-directed activity in which students learn that they are responsible for the welfare of their university and their country. The Centre seeks to foster a type of campus community life which supplements the formal academic programme of the University. The Centre brings together under one roof dining rooms and meeting rooms, library and reading rooms, art and music rooms, stage and multipurpose hall, games rooms, etc. These form the social and cultural heart of the campus. The Centre also houses the office of the Dhaka University Debating Society, Dhaka University Film Society, Dhaka University Tourist Society, Dhaka University Journalists Association, Dhaka University Chess Club, different Socio-Cultural Groups of the students, Rover Scout, Dhaka University Publication Center, Bank, Utility shop, Food Corner, and also the facilities of a voluntary blood donation organization, called Badhan, organized by the students of the University.
The University of Dhaka hosts most of the major national celebrations in the capital. Pohela Boishakh, the colorful Bangla New Year's Day festival takes place in University of Dhaka campus where a large number of people gather welcoming the new year. University of Dhaka celebrates Nabanno, a traditional annual festival marking the harvest of new crop, in style. Hundreds of girls and boys, attire in traditional dresses, attend the harvest festival, Nabanno Utsab, held at Bakultala at the Institute of Fine Arts in the University campus. Pahela Falgun, the first day of colorful Spring, is celebrated with lots of enthusiasm and in style in the University of Dhaka campus. Students wear colorful attire and performs in traditional cultural activities.
In addition, TSC designated and fixed few dates for some events. For example, Basanta Utshab (13-14 Feb), Baishaki Utshab (15–19 April), Fete de la Musique (2 July) and Friendship Day (First Sunday of August).
Religious harmony
The University of Dhaka is a place of religious harmony. The university students and teachers enjoy holidays in the major festivals of Muslim, Hindu, Christian[9], Buddhist etc. religions. Although, Bangladesh and the university is Muslim majority, other religious festivals are also celebrated in the university campus. For example, major Hindu religion festivals, such as Durga Puja and Swaraswati Puja, are celebrated every year at Jagannath Hall in the University of Dhaka campus, also with enthusiastic participation of Muslims and others.
Ranking
Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture at University of Dhaka
Despite being continuously affected by turbulent political environment of the region and severely insufficient funding for researches and academic activities the university managed to make position in the regional and international level.
International ranking
In 2008, the University of Dhaka has made into the list of "Top World Universities" in the ranking carried out by apparently world’s most prominent ranking agency Times Higher Education and Quacquarelli Symonds (THE–QS), UK . Out of over 30,000 universities around the world, DU was placed as 528. In Engineering & IT the university positioned 300th where in Life Sciences & Biomedicine the university ranked 284th. However, the university ranked better in 2007 (within top 500) and 2006 (365th). The subject area wise ranking in 2007 was: 336th in Arts & Humanities, 256th in Natural Sciences, 256th in Engineering & IT, 297th in Social Sciences and 251st in Life Sciences & Biomedicine. University of Dhaka is the only university from Bangladesh made position in the world's top universities list.
Asian level ranking
In the best Asian (and Australian) universities ranking, AsiaWeek ranked the University of Dhaka 37th in 1999[12] and 64th (overall and multi-disciplinary category) out of 77 ranked universities in 2000 [4]. This is the only university in Bangladesh made position within the Asia's best universities. In 2000, the university got a comparatively higher rank in student selectivity (23rd) while got lower ranking in academic reputation (74th), faculty resources (59th), research (65th) and financial resources (74) categories [13].
Ranking based on the website content and visibility
The university's website based ranking is below standard. Although the university positioned 2nd within Bangladesh [14] and 45th within South Asia, it barely made position in top 7000 (6388nd) in the January 2009 ranking by Webometrics in their World Universities Ranking [15] based on web visibility of electronic publication, scientific results and international activities.[16]. Apparently the poor internet infrastructure in Bangladesh can be the key reason of the large difference between the rank of the university in "university ranking" and "web performance based university ranking".
In 2009, 4 International Colleges & Universities [17] ranked the university as the most popular university in Bangladesh in their 'Colleges and Universities By 2009 Web Popularity Ranking' list.
Admission Procedure
Dhaka University Central Students' Union(DUCSU) building
Admission in Degree Honours Courses
Students who have passed the SSC and the HSC Examinations (after 12 years of schooling) or examinations equivalent to HSC of Bangladesh Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education with required GPA are considered eligible for admission to the Degree Honors Courses.
Admission is highly competitive and every year the University Admission Committee fixes a standard of academic attainment at the SSC and HSC levels. Selection of students for admission is made through admission tests. All candidates have to take part in MCQ tests and must score the pass marks to qualify in the admission test. Students who passed at least five subjects in the GCE "0" level and two subjects in the "A" level examinations are also eligible to apply for admission. They are required to obtain at least B Grade in three subjects and C Grade in other four subjects among the seven subjects of "0" Level and "A" Level.
Admission in Masters Courses
Students who pass the Honors Examinations of this University are admitted in the Masters programme. International students are also allowed to get admission in the Master’s degree programs if their academic records are found acceptable by the equivalence committee of the university.
Admission of International Students
International Students must apply well in advance through their respective embassy in Bangladesh to the Ministry of Education, Government of Bangladesh, enclosing evidence of examinations passed and transcripts of academic records.
Historical Events
Shaheed Minar, or the Martyr's monument, is the symbol of the language movement. In 2000, UNESCO declared 21 February International Mother Language Day for the whole world to celebrate[19], in tribute to the Language Movement and the ethno-linguistic rights of people around the world.
The university was witness to another historical event, as it was in the campus of Dhaka University that the original Flag of Bangladesh was unfurled for the first time, at a time of national crisis with the Bangladesh Liberation War looming closer. The University saw its share of the genocide initiated by Pakistani dictatorship in 1971, as many pupils and professors were killed in Operation Searchlight by the Pakistan Army.
War of Liberation
Main article: 1971 Dhaka University massacre
The War of Liberation severely crippled Dhaka University's academics when a large number of its distinguished teachers and a considerable number of its students and employees were killed. The emergence of several new universities later did little to ease this burden.
The teachers, who were killed, include Dr. Govinda Chandra Dev, Dr. ANM Muniruzzaman, Santosh C Bhattacharya, Dr. Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta, AN Munir Chowdhury, Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury, Dr. Abul Khair, Dr. Serajul Hoque Khan, Rashidul Hasan, Anwar Pasha, Dr. Fazlur Rahman, Giasuddin Ahmed, Dr. Faizul Mohi, Abdul Muktadir, Sarafat Ali, Sadat Ali, AR Khan Khadim, and Anudippayan Bhattachariya. The university's chief medical officer, Dr. Mohammad Mortuza, and a teacher of the University Laboratory School, Mohammad Sadeq were also killed.
Dhaka University Alumni Association
Dhaka University Alumni Association (DUAA) was established on 24 September 1949 with late Justice M. Ibrahim as its President.
Since its establishment DUAA is committed towards the development of the University of Dhaka and welfare of its students through providing scholarships, stipends and funding in the academic pursuits of the students. Besides, it undertakes various projects to preserve the traditions of the University, adding to the academic excellence of the University of Dhaka in general in co-operation with the University authorities. Having financial assistance from Eastern Bank Ltd. DUAA has introduced 224 scholarships along with carrier building counseling to meritorious students of all the 57 departments of Dhaka University. Furthermore, forty four meritorious students of all the 9 institutes under the University of Dhaka are also provided with similar scholarships and job training by Mutual Trust Bank Ltd and DUAA jointly.
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