Kurigram Agri University moving forward to become institutionalized university
Md Saifur Rahman, Kurigram
Almost five years after its establishment, Kurigram Agricultural University is gradually moving towards institutionalization. The university, which started its journey on December 22, 2021, will begin its academic activities in 2024. Currently, educational activities are underway with a total of 240 students in three batches.
According to university sources, two faculties are currently operating. One is the Faculty of Agriculture and the other is the Faculty of Fisheries. Activities are also underway to launch new faculties to further expand the opportunities for higher education for students.
Academic activities were started after Professor Muhammad Rashedul Islam, Vice-Chancellor of Kurigram Agricultural University, took charge in 2024. He said that after its establishment, it was not possible to start the academic activities of the university until 2024. After taking charge, educational activities have been started with a total of 80 students in two batches of 40 each to advance the institutional activities.
He said, considering the housing crisis for the first batch of students, arrangements have been made to rent a dormitory and a dormitory for them to stay. In addition, approval has been obtained for practical classes through universities and other related institutions to ensure hands-on education for the students.
The Vice Chancellor further said that a large part of Kurigram is char areas. The land in these char areas has potential for agriculture. Therefore, students are being taken to the field level and given practical education on various aspects of agriculture. In this, students are getting an opportunity to gain an idea about real agriculture along with classroom education.
The Vice-Chancellor said that initiatives have also been taken to increase academic and lab facilities for the third batch of students. He said that a letter has been sent to the University Grants Commission (UGC) in this regard. In the meantime, a UGC delegation has inspected and verified the feasibility of renting two more buildings.
Currently, the university is operating in two rented buildings. One building is used for administrative activities and the other for academic activities.
The Vice-Chancellor said that work is also being taken forward to establish a permanent campus.
The university currently has 30 temporary staff, including teachers, and another 18 through outsourcing. Initiatives are also being taken to recruit permanent staff, said Vice-Chancellor Professor Muhammad Rashedul Islam.
The Vice Chancellor said that in addition to the university teachers, teachers from various universities of the country are being brought in to provide practical and realistic education to the students.
The educational programs are being conducted with the aim of enabling these students to work efficiently in various fields of agriculture, including agriculture hubs, in the future.
Although there was a delay in starting academic activities after its establishment, Kurigram Agricultural University is currently gradually moving towards the structure of a full-fledged university through initiatives to increase educational activities, accommodation, practical education, infrastructure, and manpower.
