Begum Rokeya University
Begum Rokeya University one of the public universities of the country located in Rangpur to meet up the demand for setting up of a university for creating opportunities for higher studies to the people of North Bengal. The university was established by the government on 12 October 2008 with the name Rangpur University and its session began on 4 April 2009 with 300 students. The university was later renamed as Begum Rokeya University after the name of Begum Rokeya, the pioneer in promoting female education and emancipation of the women in Bengal. The University shifted to its permanent campus set on 75 acres of land on 8 January in 2011 between the location of Rangpur Cadet College and Rangpur Carmichael College.
The university has six faculties: Arts, Social Science, Science, Engineering and Technology, Life and Earth Science and Business Studies. There are twenty-one departments under these faculties such as Bengali, English, History and Archaeology, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Gender and Development Studies, Mass Communication and Journalism, Public Administration, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Geography and Environmental Science, Disaster Management, Management, Marketing, Accounting and Information System and Finance and Banking.
At present there are 8500 students, 174 teachers, 532 officers and employees in the university. There are 4 academic building, 1 administrative building, 4 dormitories for teachers and officials, 4 halls in this university including two for male Shaheed Mukhtar Elahi Hall, Jatir Pita Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall and two for female students Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, Sheikh Hasina Hall. The central library of the university has a rich collection of books journals. In addition, Internet facilities are there in every department including the university library. Apart from the central library, has separated lab and seminar hall.
Apart from academic activities, provisions are made for extra curriculum activities such as Debating Society, Rover Scout and other cultural program for the students. [Md. Ashik Iqbal]