Universities in Bangladesh are mainly categorized into three different types: public (government owned and subsidized), private (private sector owned universities), and international (operated and funded by international organizations such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation). Bangladeshi universities are affiliated with the University Grants Commission, a commission created according to the Presidential Order (P.O. No 10 of 1973) of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Contents
- Map of Bangladesh
- Public universities
- Private universities
- International universities
- Special universities
- Proposed universities
- References
Map of Bangladesh
Most universities focus on general studies, mixing together such areas of study as business, engineering and technology. Seven universities have specialized curricula. Two of these are focused on Islamic studies, two on agricultural science, one on healthcare science, one on veterinary medicine, and one on women's studies.
Public universities
Bangladesh has 35 public universities providing education to the bulk of higher studies students. These universities are funded by the government while managed as self-governed organizations.
Dhaka division is home to thirteen public universities, among which eight are in Dhaka City. There are seven public universities in Chittagong division, four in Khulna division, three in Rajshahi division. Each of Mymensingh Division, Rangpur division, Sylhet division & Barisal division has two.
Private universities
Establishment of private universities in Bangladesh was initiated after the institution of the Private University Act 1992. There are 80 such universities that are operational in five out of seven divisions of the country. Another 12 universities has been approved by UGC recently but yet to start operation. So total number of approved private university is now 92(as of February, 2016).
Most of the private universities are in Dhaka Division, totaling 51. All of them have their campuses in Dhaka city, concentrated mostly in the Gulshan, Dhanmondi, Panthapath and Uttara regions of the city. Two private universities in Dhaka specialize in science and technology, one specializes in women's studies, and the others are general universities. Six private universities are located in Chittagong Division. All six have their main campuses in Chittagong city. One has its urban campus in Kumira, outside the main city. Five of them are general universities, while one specializes in science and technology. The only private university in Rajshahi Division has its campus in Bogra. In Sylhet Division there are four private universities, all having their main campuses in Sylhet city. There is no private university in Barisal Division and Rangpur Division.
International universities
There are only two international universities in Bangladesh. They are neither managed nor funded by the government, like public universities, nor established under the Private University Act and managed by a private governing body, like private universities.
International Culture University, established by civil society organization and branded by United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), is an internationally accredited-affiliated and an active partner of different international organizations working for internationalization of education and international quality. Islamic University of Technology was established by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and is located in Gazipur, Dhaka division, while another is located in Chittagong division and funded by the Asian University for Women Support Foundation (AUWSF), a United States based non-profit corporation.
Special universities
Following are the public universities that operate through a number of colleges all over Bangladesh instead of a localized campus. Both have headquarters in Gazipur.
Proposed universities
In 2016 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced bringing out Higher Educations reforms to establish at least one university or sub-campus at district level across the country for promotion of higher education.
The following is a list of proposed new universities.