Introduction to University Establishment

The main objective of establishing The People’s University of Bangladesh was to provide quality education at low cost and retain students in the country. Due to the lack of good and modern education, a class of students migrate abroad. Our main goal is that these students can get modern and low-cost quality education in the country. For this purpose, under the leadership of the former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Professor Dr. Abdul Mannan, a group of enthusiastic and motivated individuals (Appendix-1) established a non-profit foundation or organization called Foundation for People’s Education in 1994 and later under this foundation in 1996 to make an invaluable contribution to the expansion of higher education in the country. The People’s University of Bangladesh was established with noble purpose.

More than two eras have passed since the establishment of private universities in our country. If we evaluate the contribution of private universities in the field of education at this time, then it has to be considered positive. Because in our country, although the number of government universities has increased, yet sufficient number of students cannot get admission in the government universities. Again, the education environment is not as expected. As a result, well-to-do students migrate abroad. A huge amount of foreign currency and talent is also smuggled out of it. But as private universities are established, many such students are getting admission in these private universities. We believe that private universities have been able to play an important, positive and significant role in the national economy as well as in the overall higher education expansion of the country.

At the time of establishment of The People’s University of Bangladesh, the plan of teaching 12 subjects under three faculties was accepted, but at present, teaching continues in a total of 28 courses under 5 faculties. In 1996, with the approval of the government, academic administrative work was started in 2 rented buildings and then 1 more in Lalmatia area of Dhaka city.

The campus was shifted to its own building on Asad Avenue in 2004 due to the increase in the number of students. Later, as a part of the fulfillment of the conditions regarding the establishment of a permanent campus mentioned in the Private University Act-2010, in Shrishtigarh Mauza of Shibpur Upazila under Narsingdi District, more than (two) acres of land was purchased on the side of Dhaka-Sylhet Highway 2 and permanent infrastructure was constructed and the education program was started. At present there are about 500 (five hundred) students studying there.

The number of students increased from 74 in the first year of establishment to 2500 at present. Initially the education program was started by only part-time teachers but currently 67 full-time teachers and 45 part-time teachers are engaged in teaching. At present the university has 4 buildings including 2 multi-storied buildings of its own with various faculties, centrally air-conditioned library, laboratory, cafeteria and student/teacher center supporting the teaching programme.

The founders of the university were mainly academicians. Among them, the former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof. Dr. Abdul Mannan, Deputy Controller of Examinations Mr. Abdul Barek Miah, retired teachers of the then Jagannath College (now Jagannath University) and Eden Women’s College Prof. MA Bari, Prof. MA Rashid and Prof. SA Razzak etc. All the mentioned persons were involved in education and educational administration, so mainly financial problems were the main obstacle. The founding Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Abdul Mannan and other members of the university were associated with the establishment of this university by several distinguished businessmen, philanthropists and academics.