Government nods to Grameen University in Dhaka

The education ministry has approved the establishment and operation of Grameen University, a new private institution in Bangladesh.

The campus will be located in the Diabari South area of Dhaka’s Turag.

Md Ashraful Hassan, the current chief of Grameen Trust, will serve as the chairman of the university’s Board of Trustees.

Grameen Trust, a non-profit founded by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus in 1989, focuses on poverty alleviation through social business.

Deputy Secretary (Private University-1) of the Secondary and Higher Education Division Rokhsana Begum confirmed on Tuesday evening that a letter granting provisional approval for the university’s establishment had been sent to Ashraful.

The approval is subject to 22 conditions.

University Grants Commission (UGC) member Mohammad Anwar Hossain told bdnews24.com, “The campus was inspected three to four months ago following the Board of Trustees' application, and a report was sent to the education ministry.”

According to the UGC's website, Bangladesh currently has 115 approved private universities.

With this addition, the number will rise to 116.

Of these, 106 universities are operational while nine have suspended educational activities.

The UGC had issued a warning in November regarding student enrolment at eight of them.

The education ministry published the approval letter on Tuesday after issuing it on Monday.

It says the temporary permit will last for seven years, and the institution must comply with all provisions of the Private University Act, 2010.

As per the conditions, Grameen University must have a minimum of 25,000 square feet of owned or rented space, at least three faculties, and six departments under them.

It is also required to maintain a reserved fund of at least Tk 15 million in any scheduled bank.