Government to set up Bangladesh’s fifth agricultural university in Khulna

Parliament has passed a bill paving way for setting up of Bangladesh’s fifth agricultural university in Khulna.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid tabled the bill on Sunday that was passed in voice vote.

It will become a law once the president signs it.

The move aims at facilitating higher education in agriculture, apart from researches and studies on the subject, according to the bill.

It will pave the way for innovating new technologies to increase production of agricultural goods.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the setting up of an agricultural university in Khulna at a rally there in 2011.

An initial plan had been drawn up to establish the university on 62 acres of land at Daultpur, a Khulna neighbourhood.

Minister Nahid tabled the bill first on Mar 9 which was then scrutinised by the standing committee on education ministry.

The Cabinet approved draft of the ‘Khulna Agricultural University Bill, 2015’ on July 5.

The president will appoint an agronomist as the vice-chancellor for four years. One cannot stay in office for more than two terms.

Students from the university will be able to serve as interns for six-month under the Department of Agricultural Extension.