University of Chittagong

The University of Chittagong (Bengali: চট্টগ্রাম বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়) also known as Chittagong University (CU), is a public research university located in Chittagong, Bangladesh. It was established on 18 November 1966. It is the fifth oldest university of Bangladesh. Having an area of 2,312.32 acres (935.76 ha) campus, CU is the largest university in Bangladesh. It is one of the five autonomous universities of Bangladesh.

Facilities

Library

Chittagong University's collection of about 350,000 books, and over 40,000 bound journals is housed in a 56,700 square feet (5,270 m2) library built in 1990.

Chittagong University Museum

Chittagong University Museum was established in 1973 with artifacts from the History Department, including fossils found amongst the Nasirabad hills. It has subsequently accumulated an extensive collection of historical artifacts and paintings. In 2016, The Daily Star donated a Chittagong history archive to the museum.

University shuttle train

The university shuttle train is operated by Bangladesh Railway eastern division and monitored by university authority. Trains leave Chattogram railway station and Sholoshohor railway station, and city-bound trains leave Chattogram University railway station.

Shuttle graffiti

Chittagong University shuttle trains have a long history of graffiti art. There were allegations it was being used by rival political groups to assert influence over train compartments. Following clashes in April 2011 between five compartment-based groups that left at least eight students injured, the university expelled 11 students and banned all forms of compartment-based organizational activities, including the posting of posters, leaflets, and graffiti on the trains.

Eleven years after that incident, German artist Lukas Zeilinger, accompanied by Livia, his wife, and Arup Barua, a teacher at the Department of Dramatics of the university, painted the carriages once again. The project was self-funded by the Zeiligers as part of their art project.

Chittagong University Central Students' Union

Chittagong University Central Students' Union is the official students' union of the University of Chittagong. It is commonly known as CUCSU. Its aim is to represent Chittagong University students in the university's decision-making, and to give a voice to the students in the national higher education policy debate, and to provide direct services to the student body. It was established in 1966. Its current constitution was adopted in 2025.

Student organizations

The Chittagong University Chess Club is the official student-run organization recognized by the university to promote chess culture, training, and competitive play on campus. The club regularly organizes inter-departmental tournaments and hosts active online arenas. Externally, the club has organized two FIDE-rated national-level tournaments drawing players from across Bangladesh. In competitive sports, the university's chess team secured the 2nd runner-up position at the Inter-University Chess Tournament 2026, organized by the Bangladesh Inter-University Sports Association.

Academic

Faculty

As of 2024, Chittagong University has 54 departments under 9 faculties.

Institutes

• Chittagong University currently has 7 institutes
• Institute of Education and Research
• Fine Arts Institute
• Institute of Modern Languages
• Community Ophthalmology Institute
• Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences
• Institute of Marine Science
• Social Science Research Institute

Research centers

The university currently has 6 research centers.

• Jamal Nazrul Islam Mathematics and Physical Science Research Centre
• Nazrul Research Centre
• Bureau of Business Research
• Center for Social Science Research
• Chittagong University Center for Business Administration
• Center for Asian Studies

Affiliated educational institutions

There are currently some educational institutions under Chittagong University:

• College of Engineering
• Newcastle University College, Chittagong
• Institute
• Chittagong Institute of Technology, Chittagong
• Chittagong Institute of Fashion and Technology, Chittagong
• Other
• Home Economics College, Chittagong

Library

Chittagong University Central Library is the largest library in Chittagong and one of the richest libraries in the country. The current collection in this library is around 350,000, which includes rare books, journals, audio-visual material, manuscripts and Braille books for the blind. At the inauguration of the university in November 1966, the library started with only 300 books. The library moved to its current building in November 1990. The three-storied library has separate rooms for students, researchers and teachers. There is also an auditorium in the library building. Photocopying facilities are available in the library. The library also has facilities for daily reading of national and regional newspapers. The library is currently under automation.

Medical Center

Chittagong University Medical Center is located near the law faculty of the university. It works to provide free medical care and pathological examination for university students, faculty and staff. Apart from this, free medical care is also provided to the family members of teachers and staff. This medical center has round-the-clock services every day of the week, where doctors provide medical care on a rotating basis. This center has 11 doctors and 4 ambulances. There are also 6 temporary beds in the medical center premises.

Campus

Residential halls

As of 2022, there are 14 residential halls at the university, of which 9 are for male and 5 for female students.

Vice chancellors

Pro Vice-chancellors

Notable faculty and alumni members

Faculty

• Jamal Nazrul Islam, theoretical physicist and mathematician
• Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank and Nobel Prize winner & former Chief Advisor of Bangladesh
• Abdul Mannan, chairman, University Grants Commission of Bangladesh
• A F M Khalid Hossain, Islamic scholar
• Anisuzzaman, Bangladeshi academic of Bengali literature
• Murtaja Baseer, painter and artist

Mohammad Shah Alam, chairman (acting) of the Bangladesh Law Commission and founding father of the Faculty of Law, University of Chittagong, and former professor at the Department of Law, University of Rajshahi

• Monsur Ul Karim, painter
• Syed Abdullah Khalid, sculptor and painter
• Abdul Karim, Bangladeshi historian
• Farzana Islam, former vice chancellor, Jahangirnagar University (former lecturer, Sociology department)

Alumni

• Niaz Ahmed Khan, academic and 30th vice chancellor of the University of Dhaka
• Aslam Chowdhury, fellow chartered accountant and politician
• Mahmood Hossain, academic and 12th vice chancellor of Khulna University
• Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh

Эх сурвалж: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)