Islamic University, Bangladesh (legally: Islamic University) (; ), commonly referred to as Islamic University, Kushtia (abbreviated as IU), is a public PhD granting research university in Kushtia-Jhenaidah, Bangladesh and the largest seat of higher education in the southwestern part of the country.
It is financed by the Government of Bangladesh through University Grants Commission, Bangladesh. On 22 November 1979, the foundation of the Islamic University was set up in Kushtia, and it is operated under the Islamic University Act of 1980. Islamic University began operations on 28 June 1986. It holds the distinction of being the seventh oldest educational institution in the nation, serving as Bangladesh's inaugural university post-independence from Pakistan (formerly West Pakistan) in 1971. It offers undergraduate, graduate, M Phil and PhD degrees.
History
On 1 December 1976, then government announced the establishment of the Islamic University to promote a coordinated approach to Islamic education and general education in the country. Islamic University, Kushtia was founded on 22 November 1979 at Shantidanga-Dulalpur (Kushtia-Jhenidah) by then President of Bangladesh General Ziaur Rahman, based on the recommendation of ‘Islamic University Planning Committee’ on 7 January 1977 headed by M. A. Bari including seven other members.
The Islamic University Act was passed in the National Assembly of Bangladesh on 27 December 1980. The objective of establishing Islamic University is "to provide for instruction in theology and other fields of Islamic Studies and comparative jurisprudence and such other branches of learning at Graduate and Postgraduate level as the University may think fit and make provision for research including Post-Doctorate research and training for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge".
On 1 January 1981, the then Government of Ziaur Rahman appointed A. N. M Momtaz Uddin Choudhury as the first vice-chancellor and the university became operational that year.
As construction of several important buildings began, a presidential decree was issued on 15 May 1982 to shift the university from Shantidanga-Dulalpur (Kushtia-Jhenaidah) to Boardbazar, Gazipur on an area of 50 acres. The construction of an academic building, two residential halls and other necessary infrastructures were completed. Initially two faculties (Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences) with four departments (Al-Quran and Islamic Studies, Dawah and Islamic Studies, Accounting and Information System, Management) were established and 300 students were enrolled in the session of 1985–86.
In 1987, two more departments (Economics, Law) were established.
On 28 December 1988, while the infrastructure development and academic activities were in full swing, the university was again shifted to Shantidanga-Dulalpur (Kushtia-Jhenidah).
In 1991, five more departments — Bengali, English, Arabic, Islamic History, and Public Administration — were established.
In 1992, one more departments (Al Hadith and Islamic Studies) were established.
In 1995, three other departments — of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and Computer Science and Engineering— were established.
In 1998, three other departments — Information and Communication Technology, Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, and Applied Nutrition and Food Technology — were established.
In 2007, two more departments Mathematics, and Al-Fiqh and Legal Studies— were established.
In 2009, two more departments Finance and Banking, and Statistics— were established.
In 2015, three more departments — Folklore Studies, Political Science, and Marketing— were opened.
In 2017, 8 more departments— Law and Land Management, Development Studies, Social Welfare, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmacy, Environmental Science & Geography, Human Resources Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management — were established.
In 2019, the department of Fine Arts was added to the Faculty of Arts.
In 2021, the department of Mass Communication & Journalism was added to the Faculty of Social Science.
In 2022, the department of Physical Education and Sports Science was added to the Faculty of Science.
In 2025, the department of Comparative Tafsir, As-Sirah An-Nabawiyyah were added to the Faculty of Theology & Islamic Studies.
Currently, there are 41 departments under 9 faculties i. e. Faculty of Theology & Islamic Studies, Faculty of Islamic & Comparative Religions, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Social Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Business Administration, Faculty of Sciences, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, and Faculty of Biological Sciences.
Administration The chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university who appoints the vice-chancellor. The position is held by the incumbent President of Bangladesh, the Head of State of Bangladesh. The vice-chancellor is the executive head of the university. ChancellorPresident Mirza Fakhrul Islam AlamgirVice-chancellor Professor Dr. A. K. M. Motinur RahmanPro vice-chancellor Professor Dr. M. Yeaqub AliTreasurer Professor Dr. Md. Jahangir AlamRegistrar Professor Dr. Md. Manjurul Haque (In charge)Proctor Professor Dr. Md. Shahinuzzaman
List of vice-chancellors A. N. M Momtaz Uddin (9 February 1979 to 27 December 1988) Muhammad Sirazul Islam (28 December 1988 – 17 June 1991) Muhammad Abdul Hamid (18 June 1991 – 21 March 1995) Muhammad Enam-Ul Haque (9 May 1995 – 2 September 1997) Qaisuddin (3 September 1997 – 19 October 2000) Muhammad Lutfar Rahman (20 October 2000 – 3 November 2001) Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman (10 December 2001 – 2 April 2004) M. Rafiqul Islam (3 April 2004 – 10 July 2006) Foyez Muhammad Sirazul Haque (10 August 2006 – 8 March 2009) M. Alauddin (9 March 2009 – 27 December 2012) Abdul Hakim Sarkar (27 December 2012 – 30 June 2016) Md. Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari (21 August 2016 – 20 August 2020) Shaikh Abdus Salam (30 September 2020 – 10 August 2024). Nakib Muhammad Nasrullah (23 September 2024 – 14 May 2026). Professor A K M Motinur Rahman (15 May 2026 – Present )
List of pro vice-chancellors Kamal Uddin (3 March 2009 – January 2013) M. Shahinoor Rahman (20 February 2013 – 19 February 2017) M. Shahinoor Rahman (23 February 2017 – 22 February 2021) Mahbubur Rahman (30 June 2021 – 10 August 2024) M. Yeaqub Ali (2 December 2024 – Present)
Notable persons
Faculty A. N. M Momtaz Uddin Choudhury, first Vice Chancellor and project director of Islamic University, Bangladesh Maimul Ahsan Khan scholar of jurisprudence and comparative law and former professor of IU Khandaker Abdullah Jahangir, Islamic scholar and former professor of IU Abubakar Muhammad Zakaria, media personality, professor, writer Abul Ahsan Chowdhury, writer, researcher and former professor, Department of Bengali, IU Foyez Muhammad Sirazul Haque, academic and ex-vice chancellor, IU Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari, Bengali-English writer, fictionist, academic, media personality and the 12th vice chancellor, IU M. Alauddin, academic, chemist and ex-vice chancellor, IU Shamsuzzaman Khan, ex-director general of Bangla Academy and Bangabandhu Chair Professor, IU A B M Shawkat Ali, writer, physicist and ex-assistant professor of the Department of CSE, IU Mohammad Yusuf Siddiq, historian, epigraphist, researcher, professor and author
Alumni Md. Shahjahan Alam Shaju, Bangladeshi politician and former member of parliament, general secretary of Swadhinata Shikshak Parishad Mohammad Ali Moni, clinical bioinformatics scientist. Shihab Shaheen, film director, producer and screenwriter. Tapan Bagchi, writer, folklore researcher Fahima Khatun, cricketer on the Bangladesh women's national cricket team. Mehedi Hasan Royal, forward for the Bangladesh national football team. Mohammad Shamsuddin, Bangladeshi sprinter, 2004 Summer Olympics. Sohrab Uddin, Bangladesh Nationalist Party member of parliament. Amir Hamza (Mufti), Bangladeshi Islamic preacher, da'i, and politician
Academics Faculties: Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies Faculty of Islamic and Comparative Religion Faculty of Engineering and Technology Faculty of Biological Sciences Faculty of Sciences Faculty of Business Administration Faculty of Arts Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty of Law Institutes: Institute of Islamic Education and Research (IIER) Institute of Modern Languages (proposed) Institute of Education and Research (Proposed)
Faculties and departments At present the university offers academic programs through its 41 departments under 9 faculties and one self-contained Institute of Islamic Education and Research (IIER). The government-approved recent organogram of the university sets out to operate 59 departments and 3 self-contained Institutes. The faculty-wise distribution of departments is as follows:
Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies Degree awarded: BTIS (Hons), MTIS, MPhil & PhD.
There are Four departments under this faculty and the medium of instructions are Arabic, English & Bengali based on subjects, which are: No Name of the department Medium of instruction and exam. Year of establishment Seats01 Al-Quran and Islamic Studies (AQIS) Arabic, English, Bengali 1986 8002 Al-Hadith and Islamic Studies (AHIS) Arabic, English, Bengali 1992 8003 Comparative Tafsir (CT) Arabic, English, Bengali 2025 8004 As-Sirah An-Nabawiyyah (ASN) Arabic, English, Bengali 2025 80
Faculty of Islam and Comparative Religion Degree awarded: BICR (Hons), MICR, MPhil & PhD.
There are Four departments under this faculty and the medium of instructions are Arabic, English & Bengali based on subjects, which are: No Name of the department Medium of instruction and exam. Year of establishment Seats01 Dawah and Islamic Studies (DIS) Arabic, English, Bengali 1986 8002 Comparative Religion (CR) Arabic, English, Bengal03 Muslim Philosophy (MP) Arabic, English, Bengali 04 Aqidah and Ideology (AI) Arabic, English, Bengal
Faculty of Engineering and Technology Islamic University offers various Engineering Programs in different branches of engineering sciences in Undergraduate (Bachelor of Science in engineering; B.Sc. Engg.) and Graduate level (Master of Science in engineering; M.Sc. Engg).
Degree Awarded: B.Sc (Engg), M.Sc (Engg/M.Engg), M.Phil & PhD.
There are five departments including applied/engineering sciences under this faculty and the medium of instruction & examination is English, which are: No Name of the department Medium of instruction and exam. Year of establishment Seats01 Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) English 19955002 Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) English 19955003 Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (ACCE) English 19955004 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) English 19985005 Biomedical Engineering (BME) English 201750
Faculty of Biological Sciences Degree Awarded: B.Pharm, M.Pharm., B.Sc (Hons.), M.Sc & PhD.
There are three departments including applied/biological sciences under this faculty and the medium of instruction & examination is English, which are: No Name of the department Medium of instruction and exam. Year of establishment Seats01 Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (BTGE) English 19985002 Applied Nutrition and Food Technology (ANFT) English 19985003 Pharmacy (PHAR) English 201750
Faculty of Sciences Degree Awarded: B.Sc (Hons.), M.Sc, M.Phil & PhD.
There are four departments including physical/mathematical sciences under this faculty and the medium of instruction & examination is English, which are:
No Name of the department Medium of instruction and exam. Year of establishment Seats01 Mathematics (MATH) English 20075002 Statistics & Data Science (SDS) English 20095003 Environmental Science & Geography (GSE) English 20175004 Physical Education and Sports Science (PESS) English 2022 30
Faculty of Business Administration Degree Awarded: BBA, MBA, M.Phil & PhD.