University of Barishal (Bengali: বরিশাল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়, Boriśhāl Biśbôbidyālôẏ; also known as Barishal University or simply BU) is a public university located in Barishal, a divisional city in southern Bangladesh.[3] It is the country's 33rd public university.

The university was established in 2011 and began academic activities at undergraduate level in six departments under four faculties on 24 January 2012. The university offers degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The university houses 25 academic departments under six faculties, where eighteen departments are currently providing postgraduate degrees. Every year almost 1,400 students are admitted to undergraduate programs in the university. The university started its academic activities at the temporary campus at Barishal Zilla School and then shifted to its permanent campus. The permanent suburban campus of 50 acres of the university is located in Barisal Sadar Upazila beside Dhaka-Patuakhali Highway on the bank of Kirtankhola river.

Location

University of Barishal 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. The university campus is spread over 50 acres of land.

History

Barisal University Lake view

Demand for a university in the area 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 Barishal during a rally held in the city. President Ziaur Rahman made a similar statement concerning establishing a university in Barishal on 23 November 1978, at a rally in Barishal 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. The law of the University of Barishal has been amended and passed by the National Assembly of Bangladesh on 16 June 2010. On 22 February 2011, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction of a building of the university. The university officially started functioning from the first day of July 2011 in a temporary campus at Barisal Zilla School. Educational activities were inaugurated by Minister for Education Nurul Islam Nahid on 24 January 2012, in the temporary campus of the university. President Zillur Rahman and Professor Dr. Md. Harunor Rashid Khan, from University of Dhaka adorned the chairs of the Founder Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor respectively.

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 sanctioned 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 were enrolled in six inaugural departments - English, Management, Marketing, Economics and Mathematics.