University of Barisal, is a public university located in Barisal, a city in southern Bangladesh. It is the only general public university in Barisal division and the country's 33rd public university. It was established in 2011 and started educational activities on 24 January 2012. The university offers degrees at undergraduate levels. There are twenty-four academic departments under six faculties.
Location
BU is situated in the district of Barishal under Barishal Division. It is located at Karnakathi on the eastern bank of the Kirtonkhola river beside the Barishal-Patuakhali highway about 2 kilometers from the center of Barishal City.
History
Demand for a university was first made in 1960 before the independence of Bangladesh. In 1973, then-Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared he wished to establish a university in Barisal during a rally held in the city. President Ziaur Rahman made a similar statement concerning establishing a university in Barisal on 23 November 1978, at a rally in Barisal Circuit House. In 1990s, former president Abdur Rahman Biswas also made a statement for the establishment of the university. After three decades, following strong demand from the people of Barisal, the proposal was passed in ECNEC on 20 November 2008, by then Caretaker Government. On 22 November 2011, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction of a building of the university. The educational activities were inaugurated by Minister for Education Nurul Islam on 24 January 2012, in a temporary campus beside Barisal Zilla School. The construction of the main campus started in 2012 which is located at Karnakathi on the eastern bank of the Kirtankhola river in Barisal Sadar Upazila. Tk. 900 million was estimated to construct the university on 50 acres of land, including 12 acres of private and 38 acres public land. In academic year 2011–2012 around 400 students are enrolled in six majors under four disciplines.
Campus
The university campus covers an area of 50 acres, and is landscaped around the Kirtankhola river with field areas and plants making the campus a natural arboretum. Facilities include academic buildings, administration building, auditorium, library, computer centre, workshop, research laboratories, halls of residence, teachers' quarter, mosque etc. The university has inside its boundaries a bank, a canteen and a large auditorium.
Transportation
The university runs its own regular bus service to and from the city for benefit of the students residing there, every alternate day. Friday and Saturday are weekly holidays. Six double-decker BRTC bus of Barisal University also ply to and from the city.
The university provides facilities for football, cricket, volleyball, table tennis etc. The students play tennis, badminton and other games as well. The students arrange debate, cultural show etc. The annual sports events are arranged at Barisal Divisional Stadium.
Library
The library has more than 20,000 books and hundreds of journals and periodicals in its collection. Approximately 150 students can use these facilities at a time.
Skill Development and Social Organizations
The university has several skill development and social organizations which are developed and led by both teachers and students. Some of the organizations are:
Classes for the 2011–12 academic year started on 24 January 2012. Admission is offered in six subjects: Mathematics, Management Studies, Marketing, Economics, Sociology, and English. Currently it offers admission in 6 faculties and 24 departments.
