Jahangirnagar University

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Jahangirnagar University
জাহাঙ্গীরনগর বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়
Established	August 20, 1970 (1970-08-20) / January 12, 1971 (1971-01-12) (formally launched)
Type	Publicly funded
Religious affiliation	University Grants Commission (UGC)
Budget	US$31.88 million 279.13 Crore BDT(৳) (2022)
Chancellor	Abdul Hamid
Vice-Chancellor	Nurul Alam
Pro Vice-Chancellor	Monzurul Huq
Academic staff	836 (2019) professorial faculty
Admin. staff	2,018 (2018)
Students	17,212 (2019)
Undergraduates	10,788 (2018)
Postgraduates	2,235 (2018)
Doctoral students	1,962 (2018)
Location	Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Campus	Rural, 697.56 acres (2.8 km²)
Website	juniv.edu

Jahangirnagar University (abbreviated as JU) is a publicly funded university located in Savar, Dhaka, 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 (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

{{#invoke:Multiple image|render}} 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 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, Mafizuddin Ahmed, was appointed in 1970.

Name	Duration
Mafizuddin Ahmed	(1970–1972)
Syed Ali Ahsan	(1972–1975)
Muhammad Enamul Haq	(1975–1976)
Zillur Rahman Siddiqui	(1976–1984)
Mohammad Noman	(1988)
Kazi Saleh Ahmed	(1988–1993)
Amirul Islam Chowdhury	(1993–1994)
Alauddin Ahammad	(1998–1999)
Abdul Bayes	(1999–2001)
Jasim Uddin	(2001–2004)
Khondokar Mustahidur Rahman (d. 2021)	(2004–2007)
Muhammad Muniruzzaman	(2009)
Shariff Enamul Kabir	(2010–2012)
M. Anwar Hossain	(2012–2014)
M A Matin	(January 23, 2014 – March 2, 2014)
Farzana Islam	(2014–2022)
Md Nurul Alam	(2022–present)

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 and Physical Sciences

• Department of Chemistry
• Department of Computer Science and Engineering
• Department of Environmental Sciences
• Department of Geological Sciences
• Department of Mathematics
• Department of Physics
• Department of Statistics

Faculty of Social Sciences

• Department of Anthropology
• Department of Economics
• Department of Geography and Environment
• Department of Government and Politics
• Department of Public Administration
• Department of Urban and Regional Planning

Faculty of Arts and Humanities

• Department of Archaeology
• Department of Bangla
• Department of English
• Department of Drama and Dramatics
• Department of Fine Arts
• Department of History
• Department of International Relations
• Department of Journalism and Media Studies
• Department of Philosophy

Faculty of Biological Sciences

• Department of Botany
• Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
• Department of Microbiology
• Department of Pharmacy
• Department of Public Health and Informatics
• Department of Zoology

Faculty of Business Studies

• Department of Accounting and Information Systems
• Department of Finance and Banking
• Department of Marketing
• Department of Management Studies

Faculty of Law

• 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 to offer an undergraduate degree in business. It offers a four-year course of study leading to a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree, and an eighteen-month post-graduate Master of Business Administration (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(A Unit) was established in 2009.
• Bangabandhu Institute of Comparative Literature and Culture(C Unit)
• Institute of Remote Sensing and GIS provides postgraduate degrees.

File:Wazed Miah Science Research Centre.jpg

Wazed Miah Science Research Centre

File:Fish Hatchery and Research Institute at Jahangirnagar University,Bangladesh.jpg

Fish Hatchery and Research Center

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

File:মীর মশাররফ হোসেন হল.jpg

Butterfly shaped Mir Mosharrof Hossain Hall, Jahangirnagar University

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

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.
• Jahanara Imam Hall: named after Jahanara Imam
• Pritilata Hall: named after Pritilata Waddedar
• Begum Khaleda Zia Hall: named after Khaleda Zia, former prime minister of Bangladesh
• Sheikh Hasina Hall: named after Sheikh Hasina, prime minister of Bangladesh
• Sufia Kamal Hall: named after kobi Sufia Kamal, a famous poet and a political activist.
• Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall: named after Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, first lady to the first President of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

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, scientist known for having developed a wound dressing
• Arindam Banik, IMI Kolkata Director
• Selim Al Deen, playwright and theatrical artist
• Shariff Enamul Kabir, chemist and former VC of JU
• Humayun Faridi, 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, 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, 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, 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, national professor
• Shariff Enamul Kabir, university administrator
• Mustafa Nurul Islam, national professor and former director general of Bangla Academy
• 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.

See also

• Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)
• University of Dhaka (DU)
• University of Rajshahi (RU)
• University of Chittagong (CU)

External links

16x16px Media related to {{#invoke:Commons link|getCategory||linktext=|lcfirst=|nowrap=|italic=|tracking=1|qid=}} at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website
• Old photographs of the campus