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🇧🇩 Bangladesh /Culture & Society

President Lays Foundation Stone for Thakurgaon University

From Daily Star · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has laid the foundation stone for Thakurgaon University in Bangladesh, fulfilling a demand that dates back to 1996.
  • The university will be built on 86 acres in Maheshali village, with construction expected to begin after its infrastructure design is completed.
  • The project received cabinet approval in 2023, became law later that year and began its formal administrative journey with the appointment of its first vice-chancellor in May 2026.

After nearly three decades of demands, Thakurgaon has taken the formal first step toward a public university. President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir laid the foundation stone at Maheshali village in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila.

Speaking after the ceremony, Alamgir said a public university of national standard had long been a dream for local people. “Today, we have been able to lay the foundation stone of the university by fulfilling the commitment made by our Prime Minister Tarique Rahman,” he said.

Today, we have been able to lay the foundation stone of the university by fulfilling the commitment made by our Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

· Mirza Fakhrul Islam AlamgirThe president spoke after laying the university’s foundation stone.

The president thanked Tarique Rahman for approving the university and credited the Ministry of Industries and Thakurgaon Sugar Mills authorities with providing the land. He said construction should begin soon and that the infrastructure design would be completed shortly.

This is undoubtedly a day of joy for the people of this area. We have got an opportunity to expand higher education here and help our children receive higher education so that they can contribute to the country's development.

· Mirza Fakhrul Islam AlamgirThe president described the university as an opportunity to expand higher education in Thakurgaon.

“This is undoubtedly a day of joy for the people of this area. We have got an opportunity to expand higher education here and help our children receive higher education so that they can contribute to the country's development,” Alamgir said. He urged residents to cooperate and help turn the university into a “centre of excellence.”

The university will occupy 86 acres in Maheshali village. Students and civil society members began campaigning for it in 1996, and the movement gained fresh momentum in 2013. A public university was announced during a 2018 visit by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The cabinet approved the draft university law in June 2023, parliament passed it in October, and it was published in the Bangladesh Gazette in November. The appointment of the first vice-chancellor, Israfil Shahin, on May 7, 2026, marked the start of the university’s formal administrative journey.

As this university has been established in response to your demand, you should protect it and take care of it.

· Mirza Fakhrul Islam AlamgirThe president urged local residents to support the new institution.
About this summary

Originally published by Daily Star in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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