University of Dhaka

University of Dhaka
ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়
Crest of the University of Dhaka
Other name
Dhaka University
DU
Former name
University of Dacca (1921–1982)
Motto
শিক্ষাই আলো
Motto in English
Education is light (Latin: Educere Est Lux)
TypePublic, Research
Established1921; 103 years ago (1921)
FounderSyed Nawab Ali Chowdhury
Nawab Sir Khwaja Salimullah Bahadur
Accreditation
Budget৳804.41 crore (US$67 million) (2024-2025)
ChancellorPresident Mohammed Shahabuddin
Vice-ChancellorNiaz Ahmed Khan
Academic staff
2,156+[1]
Administrative staff
3,887[2]
Students46,150+[1]
Undergraduates30,000+[3]
Postgraduates9,362+[3]
974+[3]
Other students
269+[3]
Address
Shahbag
,
Dhaka
,
1000
,
Bangladesh

23°43′59″N 90°23′28″E / 23.73306°N 90.39111°E / 23.73306; 90.39111
CampusUrban, 254.083 acres (102.824 ha)
Colors   
Navy Blue and Red
Websitewww.du.ac.bd

The University of Dhaka (Bengali: ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়, romanized: Ḍhākā Biśbôbidyālôẏ) also known as Dhaka University or DU is a public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1921, it is the oldest active university in Bangladesh.[4][5]

The university was founded in 1921 under the Dacca University Act 1920 of the Indian Legislative Council.[6] Nawab Bahadur Sir Khwaja Salimullah, who pioneered the university in Dhaka, donated 600 acres of land from his estate for this purpose.[7][8] It is modeled after British Universities.[9] Currently it is the largest public research university in Bangladesh, with a student body of 46,150 and a faculty of 1,992.

It has made significant contributions to the modern history of Bangladesh.[9][10][11][12] After the Partition of India, it became the focal point of progressive and democratic movements in Pakistan. Its students and teachers played a central role in the rise of Bengali nationalism and the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.[13]

Notable alumni include Physicist Satyendra Nath Bose, known for Bose–Einstein statistics and the theory of Bose–Einstein condensate, Muhammad Yunus, winner 2006 Nobel Peace Prize and pioneer of microcredit, Muhammad Shahidullah, Natyaguru Nurul Momen, pioneer of Cultural & theatric activities of the university (he was both a student and later a teacher of DU), Serajul Islam Choudhury, Physicist Mohammad Ataul Karim, 20th-century Bengali poet Buddhadeb Bose and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, country's founding president.

DU Convocation of 1936, (from left) Sir Jadunath Sarkar (historian), Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay (writer), Sir John Anderson (Chancellor and Governor of Bengal), Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy (chemist), Sir A F Rahman (Vice Chancellor)
Nawab Bahadur Sir Khwaja Salimullah played a pioneering role in establishing the University of Dhaka and donated 600 acres of land from his estate for this purpose.
After Nawab Salimullah's death, Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury continued efforts to set up the university, mortgaging a part of his zamindari estate, donating 35,000 takas for University of Dhaka and 16,000 takas for scholarships for its student.
  1. ^ a b "Annual Report 2015". University of Dhaka. p. 132. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  2. ^ ৪১তম বার্ষিক প্রতিবেদন [41st Annual Report]. University Grants Commission (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d "Annual Report 2015". University of Dhaka. p. 95. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Bangladesh: Dhaka University listed among 350 top universities of Asia". Indiablooms.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  5. ^ "University of Dhaka". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Dacca University Act". old.du.ac.bd. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  7. ^ জান্নাতুল তানভী (July 2024). "ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় প্রতিষ্ঠায় যেভাবে জমি আর টাকার ব্যবস্থা হয়েছিল". BBC Bangla. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Worldh was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b "DU Day". Banglanews24.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Mukherjee 'emotional' while receiving degree in Dhaka". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  11. ^ "In Loving Memory of Samson H. Chowdhury,one of the greatest entrepreneurs the world has ever known". Worldfolio – AFA PRESS. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  12. ^ "Nawab Ali Chowdhury National Award, 2013". The News Today. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  13. ^ Alam, Fakrul (3 July 2021). "The University of Dhaka and the Birth of Bangladesh". The Daily Star. Retrieved 29 April 2024.