Staff Correspondent

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh is working with the goal of bringing all universities in the country under digital transformation within the next two years.

If this initiative is implemented, the existing disparity in digital facilities between universities in the capital and the peripheral regions of the country will be significantly reduced, said UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed.

He made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the 20th University Day and fresher's reception of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University on Wednesday.

The UGC Chairman said that in the first phase of the digital transformation program, uninterrupted high-speed internet connectivity will be ensured in all universities of the country. In the subsequent phase, digital classrooms, modern technology-based educational infrastructure and smart campuses will be developed.

He said, if this initiative is implemented, teachers and students from any region of the country will get equal opportunities to access international quality education, research and digital knowledge. Easy access to foreign research journals, e-books, research articles and other digital resources will be ensured. This will improve the quality of education and research in universities as well as increase the involvement of teachers and students in global knowledge exchange.

Vice Chancellor of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Prof Dr. Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain said that currently, about 11,000 students are studying in 25 departments under six faculties of the university. Teaching is being conducted on the basis of outcome-based curriculum at the university.

Highlighting the need to further expand the university's academic activities, the Vice Chancellor sought UGC's cooperation in launching a new department in basic sciences, hiring the required number of teachers, and developing infrastructure.

Speaking as a special guest, local MP and university syndicate member Dr. Md. Mahabubur Rahman said that despite the passage of two decades since its establishment, the university has held only one convocation.

The event was addressed by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts of the university, Prof Dr. Mohammad Imdadul Huda, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Prof Dr. AHM Kamal, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof Dr. Md. Bakhtiar Uddin, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Prof Dr. Muhammad Emdadur Rashed, Proctor Dr. Mahbubur Rahman, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, Professor Dr. Sakhawat Hossain Sarkar, and Director of the Student Counseling and Guidance Office, Dr. Ashraful Alam.