Eight public universities approved in 2023, in the final days of the ousted Awami government, have added a fresh layer to the existing crisis in Bangladesh’s higher-education sector. Established without the necessary infrastructure, staff or funding, none of these universities has yet started academic activity in full; some are running limited operations out of rented buildings. Getting these new institutions running with even a minimum level of facilities has become a major challenge for the government. Naogaon University has already begun academic activities in a rented building, with support from private partners and limited government initiative. Dhaka Central University, formed from seven government colleges in the final period of the interim government, also began academic activities this year. The others are preparing to begin administrative and academic activities. Those involved say turning these institutions into fully functioning public universities will require long-term planning and substantial government investment.
According to University Grants Commission (UGC) sources, the country currently has 62 public universities, of which 55 have active academic operations. Before the Awami League government came to power in 2009, there were 31 public universities in the country. After taking power, however, the ousted government established one public university after another without ensuring the necessary facilities. At one point, the Sheikh Hasina-led government announced plans to set up one public university in every district. Accordingly, eight more universities were approved across the country in 2023. But the then-government was unable to start academic activities at these institutions. After the July uprising, responsibility for these universities fell first to the interim government, and later to the current BNP government.
Various problems and crises facing the new public universities came up at a recent vice-chancellors’ dialogue organised by the UGC, where vice-chancellors of different universities called for a budget increase and special measures to overcome the existing crisis. Education Minister Ehsanul Hoque Milon said that although these universities were approved under the previous government, the current government has not shut them down, out of a sense of responsibility. In line with the prime minister’s announcement, allocation in the education budget will be increased in phases to try to resolve these problems.
Meanwhile, Naogaon University vice-chancellor Professor Dr Hasanat Ali has proposed constructing at least five buildings for each new university through an “umbrella project.” He told Amar Desh that, alongside administrative and academic buildings, two residential halls for students, along with a library, computer lab and medical centre, are needed. He expressed hope that, having given education the highest allocation this time, the current government would increase it further in future to ensure quality education. Dr Hasanat Ali further said that under BNP governments, public universities were traditionally activated only after appointing a project director, but the ousted government appointed a vice-chancellor first and began academic activities, creating mismanagement and uncertainty from the outset at these institutions.
A fresh start under new names
Several of the eight universities approved in 2023 were originally named after members of the Mujib family. After the July uprising, the interim government renamed them after their respective areas. The universities are: Naogaon University, Meherpur University, Bogura University, Shariatpur Agricultural University, Thakurgaon University, Lakshmipur University of Science and Technology, Satkhira University of Science and Technology, and Narayanganj University of Science and Technology. Sources say new vice-chancellors were appointed at some of these early in the interim government’s tenure, but the education adviser instructed that further steps for the new universities be put on hold. Universities that had started with a small number of students were also encouraged to suspend the creation of new teacher and staff posts. Those involved said this pause was largely due to budget constraints and other factors, which left these universities stagnant. That position was later relaxed somewhat, and activity resumed at a few of them — academic activity has begun at one, with several others in process.
UGC public university management department additional director Dr Mohibul Ahsan told Amar Desh that among the new universities, only Naogaon University has started academic activities so far, with the process under way to activate the rest.
Naogaon University, in a rented house
Nearly three years after the law was passed, Naogaon University began academic activities on July 18 at a temporary campus in a rented house, with 80 students across two departments. Education Minister Ehsanul Hoque Milon inaugurated the first batch of classes in the law and accounting departments. The university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Dr Hasanat Ali, said the university has no academic building of its own, residential hall, medical centre or auditorium. If the government allocates the necessary funds, a quality institution and quality education can be ensured. The vice-chancellor, appointed during the interim government, said operations have begun with private-sector support through digital smart classrooms, Wi-Fi and a digital library, with 10 teachers across two departments. He said the permanent campus has been included in a project for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Noting that inadequate government allocation for a new university has opened a new avenue of public-private effort, he said this would accelerate industry-academia links.
Meherpur University still waiting to begin
Despite years of movements and struggles, education has not yet reached the desired level. Although administrative activities began in a rented house after Meherpur University’s founding, academic activities have still not started. Two vice-chancellors passed through the role over the last three years without much progress. Professor Dr Tozammel Hossain was appointed vice-chancellor around three months ago and is trying to start academic activities in a rented house amid various challenges. He said that since taking charge, work has been under way to rent a house and prepare classrooms, alongside the process of acquiring land for a permanent campus. There are plans to admit 40 students each into English and computer science departments next academic year. He said, however, that the lengthy time needed for various approvals is slowing progress, and that work would speed up once land acquisition is completed. He added that once academic activities begin, many things, including books, will be needed.
Bogura University preparing two departments
Bogura University’s progress has also been slow. Although the Bogura University of Science and Technology Act was passed in 2001, it was never enacted. An initiative to enact it was taken in 2023, and the current government later passed a new “Bogura University Act, 2026.” Vice-chancellor Professor Dr Qudrat-e-Jahan, appointed on June 3, 2025, said that following the new law, a proposal for an organogram and 16 departments under eight faculties has been sent to the UGC. Preparations are under way to start academic activities initially with computer science and automobile engineering departments. Alongside administrative and academic activities in a rented building, land has been identified for a permanent campus.
Narayanganj university begins with a new VC
Nearly four years after its act was passed, Narayanganj University of Science and Technology has begun operations under the current government following the appointment of a vice-chancellor. Professor Dr Najmus Sadat, appointed on August 25, told Amar Desh that proposals on budget, staffing and a temporary office have been sent to the UGC. Activities will begin once the necessary approvals are received. He said that starting academic activities without adequate preparation could deprive students of the quality education they deserve, so he wants to ensure the necessary facilities are in place before launching. He estimated this could take six to eight months.
Thakurgaon University aims for next June
Professor Dr Mohammad Israfil was appointed vice-chancellor of Thakurgaon University on May 6. While plans for a permanent campus on 8.5 acres are moving forward, the plan is to begin academic activities by next June at a temporary campus in two rented houses. Proposals for at least six departments have been sent to the UGC. President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently laid the foundation stone for the university’s own campus. Professor Dr Mohammad Israfil told Amar Desh that official activities are currently under way at a UGC-approved temporary office, with recruitment for 15 initially approved staff positions in process. The government has also approved 8.55 acres of land for the permanent campus, with work on a feasibility study, master plan and project preparation under way.
Lakshmipur university to start academic activity next month
At Lakshmipur University of Science and Technology, work is under way to set up a temporary office in a rented five-storey building following the vice-chancellor’s appointment on June 8. The goal is to begin academic activities next year. A UGC delegation is due to visit the land selected for the permanent campus this month, and further steps will follow based on their decision.
Shariatpur Agricultural University
Dhaka University professor Dr Hossain Uddin Shekhar was appointed as Shariatpur Agricultural University’s first vice-chancellor on September 8, marking the initial step toward starting the university’s administrative and academic activities.
Satkhira university still without a VC
Satkhira University of Science and Technology, meanwhile, still has no vice-chancellor. The education minister told parliament on September 3 that the appointment process would be completed soon, after which steps would be taken to begin the university’s administrative and academic activities.
Dhaka Central University also faces a crisis
Dhaka Central University was established from Dhaka’s seven government colleges following large-scale student movements during the interim government’s tenure. After various processes, its ordinance was approved by the advisory council on January 22. Activities began after the ordinance was issued on February 8, and admissions for the current academic year have been completed. Vice-chancellor Professor Dr Nurul Islam said student admissions for the current academic year have been completed, with 61,000 students sitting admission tests for around 11,000 seats. Under the law, the university will have its own separate campus while remaining linked to the seven colleges, though implementing that structure will take time. Administrative activities are currently running out of a rented building in Baridhara.
Those involved say that, for these new universities, ensuring infrastructure, teachers, research, housing and other basic facilities is just as urgent as starting academic activities quickly. Without this, the new institutions risk facing the same repeated crises as the country’s older public universities.