Khulna University () is a public research university at Gollamari in Khulna, Bangladesh. It was established in 1991. The university campus is near the river Moyur, on the Sher E Bangla Road (Khulna-Satkhira highway).
The academic programs of Khulna University started on 31 August 1991 with 80 students in four disciplines. As of 2023, the university has 29 disciplines under eight schools.
History In 1974, the Kudrat-e-Khuda Commission stated the importance of establishing a public university in Khulna Division in its final report. The government finalized the programme of establishing a university at Khulna on 4 January 1987 and the Khulna University Act was passed in the Bangladesh National Parliament in July 1990. Distinctive law named খুলনা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় আইন (The Khulna University Act, 1990) passed in the parliament empowers the university. The university started its formal inauguration of academic activities on 25 November 1991.
Timeline
1974: The importance of establishing a university in Khulna Division was first mentioned in the report of Kudrat-e-Khuda Commission. 1979: (November) The Cabinet of Ministers took the decision for establishing a technical university. The local people demanded a general university. 1985: The government formed two committees: Zillur Rahman Siddiqui Committee (for preparing academic and administrative programmes) and Mahbubuzzaman Committee (for the selection of site). 1987: (4 January) The government finalized the programme of establishing a university at Khulna on the basis of the reports of the above committees. 1988: (25 February) Nurul Islam, the then Divisional Commissioner, was appointed the Project Director for establishing the university. 1988: (2 August) Abdur Rahim, the then divisional commissioner, was appointed the project director. After him Md. Abdul Bari served as project director. 1989: (9 March) the then President Hussain Muhammad Ershad laid the foundation stone. 1989: (1 August) Golam Rahman of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) was appointed the project director. 1990: (June) The Khulna University Act 1990 was passed in Jatiyo Sangsad. 1990: (31 July) The Khulna University Act 1990 was published in gazette form. 1991: (August) Project director Golam Rahman was appointed the first vice-chancellor. 1991: (3 August) First orientation was held. 1991: (31 August) The academic programme of the university started. 1991: (25 November) The academic programme was formally inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. 1993: (23 August) Golam Ali Fakir of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) was appointed the second Vice-Chancellor. 1997: (10 April) The first convocation was held. 1997: (23 August) S M Nazrul Islam of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) was appointed the third vice-chancellor. 2001: (14 February) The second convocation was held. 2003: (9 March) The first senate meeting was held. 2010: (28 December) The fourth convocation was held. 2015: (25 November) The fifth convocation was held. 2019: (22 December) The sixth convocation was held.
The academic program of the university commenced in August 1991 with four disciplines: Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Architecture, Business Administration (BA), and Urban and Rural Planning (URP).
In the following year, Forestry and Wood Technology (FWT) and Fisheries and Marine Resources Technology (FMRT) disciplines started up. Now, there are 29 disciplines under eight schools and one institute. The medium of instruction is English.
Administration List of vice-chancellors Golam Rahman (1 August 1991 – 22 August 1993) Golam Ali Fakir (23 August 1993 – 22 August 1997) S M Nazrul Islam (23 August 1997 – 22 August 2001) Jafor Reza Khan (29 August 2001 – 18 November 2001) M Abdul Kadir Bhuiyan (19 November 2001 – 20 March 2005) Mahbubur Rahman (20 March 2005 – 14 February 2008) Md Saifuddin Shah (15 October 2008 – 16 November 2012) Mohammad Fayek Uz Zaman (17 November 2012 – 9 January 2013) Mohammad Fayek Uz Zaman (10 January 2013 – 29 January 2021) Mahmood Hossain (25 May 2021 – 20 August 2024) Md. Rezaul Karim (17 October 2024 – present)
Schools, institutes and disciplines There are eight schools and one institute at Khulna University, which has 29 disciplines:
Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) School Architecture (ARCH) Discipline Chemistry (CHEM) Discipline Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) Discipline Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) Discipline Mathematics (MATH) Discipline Physics (PHY) Discipline Statistics (STAT) Discipline Urban and Rural Planning (URP) Discipline
Life Science (LS) School Agrotechnology (AT) Discipline Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (BGE) Discipline Environmental Science (ES) Discipline Fisheries and Marine Resources Technology (FMRT) Discipline Forestry and Wood Technology (FWT) Discipline Pharmacy (PHARM) Discipline Soil, Water and Environment (SWE) Discipline
School of Management & Business Administration (MBA) Business Administration (BA) Discipline Human Resource Management (HRM) Discipline
Social Science School Economics (ECON) Discipline Development Studies (DS) Discipline Sociology (SOC) Discipline Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) Discipline
Arts and Humanities School Bangla Language and Literature (BNL) Discipline English (ENG) Discipline History and Civilization Discipline
School of Law Law Discipline
Fine Arts School
A sculpture Adamya Bangla is the symbol of the Fine arts school.
Institute of Fine Arts offers a four-year undergraduate course leading to the bachelor's degree of fine arts (BFA). At present, there are three disciplines: Drawing and Painting (DP) Discipline Print-Making Discipline Sculpture Discipline
Education School The School of Education began the 2017–2018 academic year by offering postgraduate degree in teachers' training. There is one discipline: Institute of Education and Research They are offering the following degrees: Bachelor in Education (BEd) Masters in Education (MEd) Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDEd.)
Disciplines
Agrotechnology The Agrotechnology Discipline at Khulna University was established in March 1996. The curricula cover all courses offered by the relevant institutions in the country as well as they incorporate Geographic Information System (GlS), Spreadsheet Analysis, and Computer Studies.
Agrotechnology Discipline also works with technologies like biotechnology, tissue culture, genetic engineering, protected agriculture, heat stress mitigation, irrigation management, IPM (Integrated Pest Management), biological control (BC) of pests, etc. The discipline also collects and evaluates germplasm through its 'Germplasm Center'.
Architecture discipline Architecture discipline is the second architectural discipline in Bangladesh and one of the first four disciplines opened at Khulna University, which formally launched its academic activities under SET School in 1991. The curriculum of architecture provides the students with knowledge of man, his society, his physical environment and the technological development around the world. The Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) program of the discipline is designed for five years. There is also an opportunity to earn a master's degree.
Bangla language and literature discipline Bangla discipline was introduced in 2010–2011. It offers B.A.Hons. in Bangla language and literature. An MS program will be introduced soon.
Biotechnology and genetic engineering discipline Biotechnology and genetic engineering (the then biotechnology) discipline launched its academic activities in 1995. In 2003, the discipline was renamed "Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering". The discipline offers a four-year professional BSc degree in biotechnology and genetic engineering and a two-year MS degree in biotechnology and genetic engineering.
Business administration discipline The business administration discipline began in 1991. The university offers a 4-year bachelor's degree in business administration (BBA). The university has run management training programs for the Bangladesh naval officers since 1995. The school introduced a regular MBA program in 2002, and an Executive MBA (EMBA) program in 2005. BAD offers a contemporary quality admission process to have students be a part of it & the university.
Chemistry discipline Chemistry discipline started in the academic session 2009–2010. It has a B.Sc. (Hons.) in chemistry program. It also offers M.Sc. in chemistry program.
Computer science and engineering discipline In 1991, the computer science and engineering (CSE) discipline of Khulna University started its academic activities with 20 undergraduate students in Bachelor of Science in computer science and engineering. This discipline was the second of its kind to offer computer science/engineering education in Bangladesh after BUET. Since then around 600 undergraduate students (of 17 batches) have graduated from the discipline. A perfect 100% of graduates work in government and private organizations as well as in teaching professions at home and abroad. CSE discipline takes 40 students at the undergraduate level each year.
With support from the Ministry of Science and Information Communication Technology, the CSE discipline has run a postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology (PGD-IT) program since 2001. The discipline has achieved its target by producing around 200 PGD-IT professionals.
In 2011, the CSE discipline introduced an MSc.Engineering (CSE) degree. Students of MSc.Engineering (CSE) will benefit from the memorandum of understanding between the CSE discipline of Khulna University and the Department of Computer Science of the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
Students of CSE have a computer club named Club for Updated Search on Computers (CLUSTER). CLUSTER arranges seminars, programming contests and publishes magazines.
Development studies discipline Khulna University is the second public university in Bangladesh that offers a Bachelor of Development Studies BSS (Hons.) program. Development studies discipline offers a four-year BSS (Hons.) in Bachelor of Development Studies under Social Science School. This discipline was introduced in the academic year 2011–2012. Development studies discipline now takes 45 students at the undergraduate level each year. Following the information of 2017, there are about six batches under the Bachelor of Development Studies BSS (Hons.) program. The first batch of this discipline is known as DS'12, sequentially DS'13, DS'14, and others. The development studies discipline has Bachelor's in development studies and master's in development studies programs.
Economics discipline Economics discipline started its journey in 1999. Over the years, it has established itself as one of the economics learning institutions in Bangladesh. Graduates of this discipline (department) are contributing to the field of education, research, government services and other private sectors.
The curriculum of this discipline has been framed by blending both theoretical and practical courses. The discipline is offering a four-year Bachelor of Social Science BSS (Hons.) in economics degree, 1.5 years of master's in economics degree and 1.5 years Master's in Development and Policy Studies (MDPS).
Electronics and communication engineering discipline