University of Chittagong (CU) is a public university in Bangladesh which is located in Chittagong. It was established in 1966 in Hathazari upazila of Chittagong district. It is the largest public university in the country in terms of campus size and third largest university in terms of student number.
Location
Chittagong University is located on a hilly and flat land of 1754 acres in the jungle of Fatehpur Union of Hathazari Police Station, about 22 km north of Chittagong city. There are about 27,839 students and 872 teachers.
History of its establishment
At the beginning of the twentieth century, as there was no university in Chittagong, the people of Chittagong felt the need for a university. In the All India Conference of 1940, Maulana Muniruzzaman, in his speech to the President of Islamabad, presented the idea of building an 'Islamic University' in the Chittagong region. Later he bought some land in Deyang hill of Anwara upazila of Chittagong.
In 1942, Nur Ahmad formally demanded the establishment of a university in Chittagong in the Bengal Legislative Assembly. In the sixties, during the formulation of the Second Five Year Plan of Pakistan (1960-1965), it was decided to set up a 'Science University' in Chittagong. Later, in the election campaign of 1962, Fazlul Quader Chowdhury made a general promise to establish this university. Later, when he was elected Union Minister of Education, he took formal initiative to establish a university in Chittagong. A meeting of the National Economic Council held on 9 March 1964 approved the necessary funds for the construction of Chittagong University. On 29 August 1964, the President of Pakistan Ayub Khan laid the foundation stone of Chittagong University. Later, on 18 November 1966, Chittagong University officially started its journey. On 18 November 2016, Chittagong University celebrated its Golden Jubilee on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary.
Enrollment in the University depends on your sucsess in the admission process. Wrtten test is followed by interview. In most cases you may pursue Masters after Bachelor. But some masters course, MPhil, and PhD programs follow different selection process than that of Bacheor courses.
Vice Chancellors
In the following part you will find the list of the Vice Chancellors of CU:
1. Professor Dr. A. R Mallick was the first VC of Chittagong University
Duration: 01.10.1966-31.01.1972
2. Advocate U. N. Siddiqui(Acting V.C.)
Duration: 21.04.1971- 30.01.1972
3. National Professor Dr. M Innas Ali
Duration: 01.02.1972- 18.04.1973
4. Professor Dr. Abul Fazal
Duration:19 .04 .1973 -27 .11.1975
5. Professor Emiritus Dr. Abdul Karim
Duration:28 .11.1975 -18 .04.1981
6. Professsor M. A. Aziz Khan
Duration: 19.04.1981-18 .04.1985
7. Professor Mohammad Ali
Duration:19 .04.1985 -22 .05.1988
8. Professor Dr. Alamgir Muhammad Serajuddin
Duration: 23 .05.1988 - 29.12.1991
9. Professor Dr. Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury
Duration: 30 .12.1991 -6 .11.1996
10. Professor Abdul Mannan
Duration: 06.11.1996 -13 .02.2001.
11. Professor Md. Fazle Hossain
Duration :14.02.2001- 2 .02.2002
12. Professor A. J. M. Nuruddin Chowdhury
Duration:02.02.2002 -2 .02.2006
13. Professor Dr. Badiul Alam
Duration: 8.02.2006-24 .02.2009
14. Professor Dr. Abu Yousuf
Duration: 25 .02.2009 -28 .11.2010
15. Professor Dr. Md. Alauddin(Acting V.C.)
Duration: 09.12.2010 - 14.06. 2011
16. Professor Dr. Anwarul Azim Arif
Duration:15.06.2011-14.06.2015
17. Professor Dr. Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury
Duration:15 .06.2015 - 12.06.2019
18. Professor Dr. Shirin Akhter
Duration:13.06.2019- present
Faculties and Departments
The University has a total of 49 departments under 10 faculties.
Let's have a look here!
Faculty of Arts & Humanities
1. Department of English
2. Department of Bangla
3. Department of Philosophy
4. Department of Bangladesh Studies
5. Department of History
6. Department of Dramatics
7. Department of Sanskrit
8. Department of Arabic
9. Department of Islamic History and Culture
10. Department of Islamic Studies
11. Department of Pali
12. Department of Persian Language & Literature
13. Department of Music
Faculty of Biological Sciences
1. Department of Soil Science
2. Department of Botany
3. Department of Zoology
4. Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
5. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
6. Department of Pharmacy
7. Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
8. Department of Psychology
9. Department of Microbiology
Faculty of Science
1. Department of Physics
2. Department of Chemistry
3. Department of Mathematics
4. Department of Statistics
5. Department of Applied Chemistry & Chemical Engineering
Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries :
1. Department of Oceanography
2. Department of Fisheries
Faculty of Engineering :
1. Department of Computer Science and Engineering
2. Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Faculty of Social Sciences :
1. Department of International Relations
2. Department of Public Administration
3. Department of Economics
4. Department of Communication and Journalism
5. Department of Criminology and Police Science
6. Department of Political Science
7. Department of Development Studies
8. Department of Sociology
9. Department of Anthropology
Faculty of Law :
1. Department of Law
Faculty of Business Administration :
1. Department of Accounting
2. Department of Finance
3. Department of Banking and Insurance
4. Department of Management
5. Department of Marketing
6. Department of Human Resource Management
7. Chittagong University Center for Business Administration
Faculty of Education :
1. Department of Physical Education and Sports Science
Faculty of Medicine:
1. Institute of Community Ophthalmology
Institutes
There are 10 institutes :
1. Institute of Marine Sciences
2. Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences
3. Institute of Fine Arts
4. Institute of Modern Languages
5. Social Science Research Institute
6. Institute of Education and Research
7. Bureau of Business Research
8. Center for Asian Studies
9. Halda River research Laboratory
10. Institute of Community Ophthalmology
Residential Halls
Chittagong University currently has a total of 14 residential halls. Of which 9 halls (1 hall is under construction) are for boys and 5 halls (1 hall is under construction) are for girls.
Let's have a look at the halls !
Halls for boys:
1. Alawal Hall
2. Atish Dipankar Srigyan Hall (Under construction)
3. A. F. Rahman Hall
4. Shahjalal Hall
5. Suhrawardy Hall
6. Shah Amanat Hall
7. Shaheed Abdur Rab Hall
8. Masterda Surya Sen Hall
9. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall
Halls for girls:
1. Shamsun Nahar Hall
2. Pritilata Hall
3. Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia Hall
4. Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall (Under construction)
5. Jononetri Sheikh Hasina Hall
Library
The Central Library of Chittagong University is the largest library in Chittagong which is one of the richest libraries in the country. The library currently has a collection of about 3,50,000 books and 40,000 e-books which includes rare books, journals, audio-visual material, manuscripts and Braille books for the blind. The journey of this library started with the inauguration of the university in November 1966 with only 300 books. The library was moved to its present building in November 1990. The three-storey library has separate rooms for students, researchers and teachers.
Gymnasium
There is a gymnasium named Shaheed Sheikh Kamal for the students of the university. Where there are a variety of sports opportunities for students.
Medical Center
There is a medical center to provide free medical services to students, teachers and staff. There are also free medical services for family members of teachers and staff. There are 11 doctors and 4 ambulances.
Cultural Activities:
University students are involved in a variety of social and cultural activities. The university has various social and cultural organizations to conduct these activities.
Shuttle train
If you think of the transportation system of Chittagong University, you will first think of the shuttle train. Students will travel - there are such trains in the world only in CU. This shuttle train is one of the attractions of CU. ‘Love in Shuttle Train’ has been made with this train. The students of CU have acted. This shuttle train was introduced in 1970 for the transportation of university students. About ten thousand (10000) students travel in two shuttle trains with 10 bogies every day. At present the train travels two times seven times a day.
Museums
The university has three separate museums:
University Museum:
On 14 June 1983, the activities of the Chittagong University Museum began with four medieval cannons. At present, the museum has several ancient stone sculptures and a cannon, including several sandstone sculptures. The museum building has five galleries: Contemporary Art Gallery, Prehistoric and Archaeological Art Gallery, Sculpture Gallery, Folk Art Gallery and Islamic Art Gallery. At the entrance to the main room of the museum is an ancient 12th century inscription. There are terracotta plaques from the 8th century Paharpur, Buddha statues, 10-15 medieval Vishnu statues, weapons used by the soldiers, various coins, ancient books, musical instruments, various tribal patterns, porcelain pots etc. The museum is open to the public on all opening days.
Museum of Zoology:
This museum was established in 1983 as a supporting institution in support of the curriculum of the Department of Zoology, University of Chittagong. About 540 specimens are preserved in this museum. Of these, 57 were animals and 465 were formalin samples.
Marine Resources Museum:
This museum has been set up in a room of the Institute of Marine Science, Chittagong University. About 550 marine animals have been preserved here. From sharks to electric fish, strange banakel, octopus, snails, snakes, there are innumerable wonderful biodiversity.
Monument and Sculpture
The monument of seven freedom fighters and intellectuals 'Memorial Monument' The sculpture is located at the entrance of the university. The architect of the monument is Syed Saiful Kabir, Professor of Fine Arts, University of Chittagong. The sculpture commemorates the sacrifices and heroism of a total of 15 freedom fighters including 1 teacher, 11 students and 3 officers and employees of Chittagong University during the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971. The memorial contains the names and pictures of seven freedom fighters of Chittagong University.
Intellectual Memorial
The Intellectual Memorial is located opposite the Shaheed Minar of the University. The sculpture was erected in memory of the intellectuals killed in the war of independence of Bangladesh. The location of the pillar is known as the Intellectual Square. Renowned artist Rashid Chowdhury designed it. Established in 1975, the monument is now being considered as the birthplace of creative work of Chittagong University.
Independence Memorial Mural
The location of the sculpture in front of the Faculty of Arts of the University. It was built with the sole effort of renowned artist and teacher of the Department of Fine Arts, University of Chittagong, Murtaza Bashir. Syed Saiful Kabir, a teacher at the Institute of Fine Arts of the university, designed the sculpture.
Central Shaheed Minar
The central Shaheed Minar is located on the opposite side of the intellectual monument. It was established in 1993.
Natural beauty of Chittagong University
There are winding paths, hilly paths, different species of trees and wildlife across the university campus. Maya deer of small reddish brown color are often seen in the cut hills of the university, behind the faculty of commerce, forestry areas and other natural environments. All these Maya deer are short and shy. However, the actual number of deer is not known. There is also a beautiful mountain spring behind the Faculty of Arts and Anthropology.
Achievements:
Nobel Peace Prize winning economist Muhammad Yunus (PhD) was a faculty of Chittagong University. Besides, Ekushey Padak winner Humayun Azad, painter Murtaza Bashir and others were faculty and students of this institution.
That's all about the University of Chittagong. We will provide information on Admission Process too.
Photo Courtesy: Misbahul Karim and Mahamudul Hasan Shibli
