Rajshahi University (Also Known as The University of Rajshahi) is the second largest Public University in Bangladesh, located near the banks of Padma River, in Matihar, Rajshahi City. Rajshahi University was established on 6th July 1953 as the second University established in East Pakistan (Present Day Bangladesh). With 25,000 students and close to 1000 academic staff, it is one of the largest universities in Bangladesh.
Rajshahi University played a pioneering role in the mass upsurge of 1969, in the liberation war of 1971 and in the anti-autocratic movement of 1990. Rajshahi University proctor and a teacher of the chemistry department Dr. Shamsuzzoha was shot dead by the Pakistani military junta in front of the University’s main gate when he tried to prevent them from shooting student demonstrators. His death sparked violent protests across the then East Pakistan, leading to the fall of Ayub Khan’s regime. This date is now observed as Zoha Day.
Following the partition of India in 1947, Bangladesh became a state of Pakistan called East Pakistan. Dhaka University, which was established by the British Imperial Government (Widely Known as British Raj) on first of July in 1921, remained as the only university in East Pakistan at the time. No other University was established in East Pakistan for more than a decade following the creation of Pakistan, whereas two universities were established in West Pakistan. The establishment of Rajshahi University was a result of the demand and series of movements of the people of the Northern Region. Madar Bux, a reputed lawyer and MLA (member of the Legislative Assembly), Abdul Hamid, a prominent educationist, and Sheikh Ansar Ali, a retired judge led the movements at that time. Following the widespread demand for a Public University in Northern part of East Pakistan, the government of Pakistan prepared a feasibility report, and Rajshahi was found suitable for establishing the same. In the wake of consecutive movements, the Rajshahi University Act 1953 (East Bengal Act XV of 1953) was passed by the East Pakistan provincial assembly on March 31, 1953. The University was established on 6th July 1953. Although, it started functioning from 1954.
The university's fifty-three departments are organized into nine faculties, which are Engineering, Arts, Law, Science, Medicine, Business Studies, Social Sciences, Life and Earth Sciences, and Agriculture.
Rajshahi University’s notable alumni include literateurs Dr. Mohammad Shahidullah, linguist Muhammad Enamul Haque, Prof. Hasan Azizul Haque, Prof. Abdul Bari, Historian David cough, chief adviser of care Government (1996) Justice M. Habibur Rahman and English writer Alex's Roger, Anthropologist Peter Bouchy, Zohana Cork Patrick and Tapon Roy Chowdhury, author and scholar Ghulam Murshid, English Professor Zillur Rahman Siddique, eminent Political Scientist Talukdar Muniruzzaman, Islamic scholar Muhammad Asadullah Al-Ghalib, one of the top leaders of Bangladesh's freedom struggleAbul Hasanat Md. Kamruzzaman, singer Andrew Kishore, writer Selina Hossain, journalist Abdul Matin, and Managing Editor of the National News Agency Hamiduzzzaman.
