FE Report

Begum Rokeya University (BRU), Rangpur started its academic activities with some 300 students and 12 teachers in six departments Saturday.

Adviser to the Prime Minister Alauddin Ahmed inaugurated the academic activities of the country's 31st public university at noon at the Teachers Training College in Rangpur city, the temporary campus of the institution.

Necessary infrastructures for the university would be constructed within next two years though classes would begin on the transient campus at present, Alauddin Ahmad said, adding that a long-time demand of the people of Rangpur came true through beginning academic activities of BRU.

Speaking on the occasion as special guest, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Nazrul Islam said two universities would be established in Gopalganj and Rangamati very soon.

"We have a great plan to set up a university in all the 64 districts of the country to reach the facilities of pursuing higher education to the grass-root levels", The UGC chairman said.

BRU Vice-Chancellor M Lutfor Rahman, Registrar Md Alauddin Miah, Jahangirnagar University former VC Amirul Islam Chowdhury, National University former VC Moudud Elahi, MPs Anisul Islam Mandol and Abul Kalam Azad and Rangpur Municipality Mayor Abdur Rouf Manik, among others, spoke at the function.

The Rangpur University (later named BRU) Ordinance was passed on July 28 last year. Chief Adviser to the caretaker government Fakhruddin Ahmed later formally inaugurated the university on October 22.