Prof Dr M Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari, vice chancellor of Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia, has said that the IU is eager to gain a foothold in Asia aiming to transform it into a world class university.
He said this while addressing a brief discussion in front of the university administrative building on the occasion of 41st founding day of the university.
The authority, teachers, officers, students and the stakeholders of the university celebrated the founding anniversary on the campus amid festivity and enthusiasm on Friday.
Marking the day, the university authorities hoisted the national flag and university flag in front of administrative building and the provosts of the residential halls hoisted national flag and university flag atop of their respective halls.
Afterward, the university authorities released pigeons and balloons. A colourful rally was brought out from university administrative building led by vice chancellor Prof Dr M Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari. Pro vice-chancellor Prof Dr M Shahinoor Rahman, treasurer Prof Dr M Selim Toha and acting registrar SM Abdul Latif, Social Science faculty dean Prof Dr Nasim Banu, syndicate member, Prof Dr Zakaria Rahman, Prof Dr M Rezuanul Islam, students advisor Prof Dr M Paresh Chandra Barman also joined the rally, among others.
Later, IU administrative body, teachers, officers and students cut a cake. IU Central Mosque Imam ASM Soyaib Ahmed offered prayer in favour of the university at central mosque after Juma.
In the afternoon a colourful cultural programme was held at the Bangla Monch participated by university performers.
On November 22 in 1979, Ziaur Rahman based the foundation of the Islamic University at South-West part of the country under the university act 1980(37). It is also the 7th university of the country and the first university in the land of independent Bangladesh. It is located at Shantidanga-Dulalpur about 24 km south and 22km north of the Kushtia and Jhenaidah district towns respectively.
On 18th July in 1983, the university shifted to Gazipur Board Bazar from Kushtia. The university resifted to Shantidanga-Dulalpur in Kushtia from Gazipur on February 24 in 1990 where the campus greatly hampered for shifting, localization and local politics in several times.
Now the university has 34 departments under eight faculties against 3305 seats. There also have an institute, named Institute of Islamic Education and Research (IIER). IU has a Laboratory School and College where the general students of outside get chance to admit here.
The university is running with 400 teachers, 464 officers, 170 assistant employees and 181 employees. As many as 14,454 male and female students are studying at the university from all religions.
Academic office sources said a total of 632 researchers have so far, obtained M.Phil and 285 others are now doing research for the degree. A total of 433 obtained Ph.D while another 357 are engaged in the PhD research.
Bangabandhu chair has been set up in the university to conduct research on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabadhu, Badshah Fahad Bin Abdul Aziz, a digital library, Bangabandhu corner and Omar Akuse corner are situated at the central library on the campus.
A total of four convocations were held after establishing of the university.
Prof Dr M Haurn-Ur-Rashid Askari is the current vice chancellor of the university. He was appointed as the vice chancellor on August 21 in 2016. After taking charge, the surprising session jam removed rapidly with support of all the stakeholders of the university, said the VC.