Abu Hasnat Tuhin, Pavipravi correspondent:
Patuakhali University of Science and Technology (PUST) is one of the leading higher education and research institutions in the southern region of Bangladesh. The university is playing a leading role in the promotion of law, business administration, agriculture, science and technology education. The university is celebrating its 23rd anniversary step by step.
Surrounded by natural beauty, this university has opened the doors of higher education to the students of South Bengal and is making a significant contribution to the overall law and business education, agriculture, technology and scientific research of the country. By providing higher education and research opportunities in various modern subjects including law, agriculture, fisheries, livestock, business education, computer science, Pavipravi is transforming students into skilled manpower.
The university is working towards environmentally friendly and sustainable development while maintaining international standards in research. It has established itself as one of the best universities in Bangladesh through modern laboratories, high-quality teaching systems, and quality education.
Patuakhali University of Science and Technology (PUST) continues to emerge as a shining star in the agricultural and technological sectors of Bangladesh. By producing skilled graduates, it continues to play a major role in the country's agricultural and technological economy. The pride of South Bengal, Patuakhali University of Science and Technology (PUST) is truly a promising institution! Today (February 26) marks the university's 23rd birthday.
A colorful program has been taken up for the occasion. On Wednesday (February 26), as per the program, teachers, students, officials and employees from all the halls of the university gathered in front of the administration building at 8 am. At 8:30 am, the university's Vice-Chancellor, eminent educationist and researcher Professor Dr. Kazi Rafiqul Islam, officially inaugurated the University Day by hoisting the national flag and the university flag, releasing balloons and pigeons in front of the administration. At this time, the Vice-Chancellor was accompanied by Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. SM Hemayet Jahan, Treasurer Professor Md. Abdul Latif and Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Iktiar Uddin.
Later, at 8:45 am, a cake was cut to mark the day, and from there, a colorful procession led by the Vice-Chancellor circumambulated various important roads of the university. Teachers, students, officers and employees participated in the procession along with the Vice-Chancellor.
At 9:30 am, a tree plantation program and blood donation program were held in front of the university's Health Care Center and TSC. At 10 am, a discussion meeting was held in the central auditorium. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Kazi Rafiqul Islam was present as the chief guest in the discussion meeting.
The discussion meeting was moderated by Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Iktiar Uddin and chaired by Dean of Postgraduate Studies Professor Dr. Mohammad Atiqur Rahman. The university's Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. SM Hemayet Jahan, Treasurer Professor Md. Abdul Latif and the University Celebration Committee Convener Professor Dr. Md. Mahbub Rabbani were present as special guests.
At 11 am, friendly football, pot breaking, chicken and duck roping and rope pulling games were held at the central playground with the participation of university teachers, students and officials. At 3 pm, a scientific presentation on university achievements will be held at the TSC conference room. At 6:30 pm, a pleasant cultural program will be held at the central playground.
To celebrate the day, various important establishments and roads including the Administration Building, Keramat Ali Hall, Bijoy 24, Bijoy 36, Bir Shrestha Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Hall, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall-1 and 2, academic buildings of all faculties, student-teacher center, etc. have been illuminated. In addition, arches have been constructed at various entrances of the university and decorations have been made on road dividers and islands.
Since its establishment, the university has become known in the world as a center for advanced intellectual development. Behind which is the relentless sacrifice and hard work of teachers, officers and employees. The university is going to get a touch of modernity through continuous infrastructural development. In order to continue the momentum of the university, the current Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Kazi Rafiqul Islam is working tirelessly with all the components of the university. As a result, today students are able to take their degrees on time. Teachers, officers and employees are getting their deserved promotions on time. Due to his liberal policy, no negative comments are found from any employee of the university. Moreover, a great quality of the university is that everyone is contributing in their respective fields.
Background of the establishment of the university:- The main purpose of establishing the university was to make higher education accessible to the neglected people of the southern region. This institution has a long background. It was initially a private institution named Janata College, then a private agricultural college and under the administrative structure of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute and academic affiliation of the Agricultural University, and then Patuakhali Agricultural College was a renowned educational institution in the southern region offering B.Sc. Ag. (Hons.) degree.
Later, on 12 July 2001, the National University of Bangladesh (NUB) Act was passed in the National Parliament and on 26 February 2002, the government led by the then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia issued a gazette notification under sub-section (2) of the NUB Act, 2001, under SRO 35-Act/2002, and established the university through the implementation of the said law. For this purpose, all the teachers, officers and employees of the abolished Agricultural College were assimilated into the service of the university on 26 February 2002, under clause (b) of section 59 of the said law.
Location and size of the campus: - 15 km. North of Patuakhali district town and 28 km. South of Barisal divisional town, 5 km. East of Lebukhali on Barisal-Patuakhali highway, the main campus of the university is located in the heart of Dumki upazila of Patuakhali district. The Barisal campus is located in Babuganj of Barisal district. Out of the total area of the university, 110 acres, the main campus is 97 acres and the Barisal campus is 13 acres.
Important buildings of the campus and their introduction:-
The university has a large and beautiful campus. In the north-west of the campus is a state-of-the-art student hall. Next to it is the university's central mosque and next to the mosque is the university's health care center. On the opposite side is the library building and there is a wide playground across the western part of the campus. There are several beautiful ponds named Lal Kamal, Nil Kamal, and Tarang Tanu. There is a beautiful bridge over Nil Kamal. On the other hand, a shady road runs between Lal Kamal and the playground, which students call 'Paris Road'. A wide road connects the campus from Pirtala in the east to the highway in the west. On the south side of this road are the residential buildings of teachers and officials. To the east of the main campus, just across Pirtala Bazar, is the agricultural research farm and student hall established on 57 acres of land.
Current Status:- After being recognized as a university, the university has been successfully continuing its educational activities. Currently, there are a total of 4296 students (bachelor, master's and PhD) in 8 faculties and postgraduate levels, 247 teachers (professors 139, associate professors 41, assistant professors 51, lecturers 16). There are 220 officers and 489 employees (3rd class 78, 4th class 411). Although it started its journey with only the Faculty of Agriculture, currently the university is offering 9 degrees under 8 faculties to meet the timely needs of the country and the nation. This university is one of the best residential universities in the country. There are 8 halls for students. There are 2 more halls for students on the Barisal campus. There are 3 agricultural research farms. The university has a rich digital library. The library building has more than 55 thousand different types of books, internet system, international volumes and periodicals. There are bus, minibus and microbus facilities for the transportation of teachers, students, officials and employees. Digital identity cards (electronic chips) have been issued for all students, teachers, officials and employees of the university. High-speed WiFi net has been launched everywhere including all the halls of the campus. Work on the automation process is ongoing.
The university has a large and beautiful campus. In the north-west of the campus is a state-of-the-art student hall. Next to it is the university's central mosque and next to the mosque is the university's health care center. On the opposite side is the library building and there is a wide playground across the western part of the campus. There are several beautiful ponds named Lal Kamal, Nil Kamal, and Tarang Tanu. There is a beautiful bridge over Nil Kamal. On the other hand, a shady road runs between Lal Kamal and the playground, which students call 'Paris Road'. A wide road connects the campus from Pirtala in the east to the highway in the west. On the south side of this road are the residential buildings of teachers and officials. To the east of the main campus, just across Pirtala Bazar, is the agricultural research farm and student hall established on 57 acres of land.
Infrastructure Development:- Under the further development project, various infrastructure construction works are underway at a cost of about Tk 450 crore. Among them, land development, horizontal expansion of the 4-storey farm building, another 5-storey staircase for the administrative building, 10-storey Sheikh Hasina Hall and Sheikh Russell Hall, two academic buildings of 10 and 6 floors, expansion of Kabi Begum Sufia Kamal Hall, 2-storey Ansar Barracks building, Meteorological Station building, 2-storey Vice-Chancellor's residence, expansion of the existing University School and College up to 4 floors, 10-storey residential building for professors and equivalent officers, 5-storey building for assistant professors and equivalent officers, open stage, mini stadium, modern gymnasium, construction of a beautiful fenced wall and various infrastructure development works are underway.
Research Activities:- Research activities are conducted through the Research and Training Center of Patuakhali University of Science and Technology. Since its establishment, funds have been allocated to 801 research projects successfully under the Research and Training Center. Currently, there are more than two hundred research projects being conducted in 2023-2024 with its own and government funding. Several advanced and high-yielding fruit varieties have been developed at Patuakhali University of Science and Technology. Among them, PSTU Bilatigab-1, PSTU Bilatigab-2, PSTU Dewa-1, PSTU Dewa-2, PSTU Batabi Lebu-1, PSTU Kamranga-1, PSTU Kamranga-2, PSTU Tentul-1, PSTU Baichi-1 are among them. Biochar technology innovation, preparation of the country's first and only hippopotamus skeleton, research and storage of more than 500 rice varieties of 100 indigenous varieties, increasing the production capacity by 22-25 percent through the 'Ftrip Method' method in maize and sunflower cultivation, and efforts to produce rice that is tolerant to salinity and waterlogging are ongoing at this higher education institution in the southern region. In addition, more than 150 researches are underway on plants and animals. Work is underway to establish the Marine Fisheries Research Institute in Kuykata for the proper use and research of marine resources. Various types of research activities are constantly being carried out to enrich agriculture. In addition, program-based research activities are progressing. Paviprabi has signed working agreements with various universities of Indonesia, Malaysia, China, India, Japan, Australia and Germany as well as various universities around the world. Since the university is a world-class university, students from India and Nepal are studying here.
Quality of Education: - The American Credit Course System, known as the most advanced teaching method, is implemented in this university. Among all the universities in the country, this university was the first to introduce English as the medium of agricultural education at the undergraduate level in 2002. There are 32 modern laboratories for hands-on teaching. There is a large central laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. Along with the development of infrastructure, the quality of education has also improved. The course curriculum has been slightly changed to implement the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution. Outcome-based curriculum has been introduced. Initiatives have been taken to make academic and administrative activities 100% digital.
Co-curricular activities: - Along with academic education, importance has been given to co-curricular activities. Annual sports and inter-faculty tournaments are organized. There are several cultural organizations and band groups for cultural practice. There are about fifty social organizations including Journalists Association, Bandhan, BNCC, Rover, Faculty Club. Which are being run by volunteer students.
Future plans:- The academic master plan has not been prepared at Patuakhali University of Science and Technology so far. The current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Kazi Rafiqul Islam, has taken the initiative to prepare a physical master plan along with the academic master plan. A DPP of Tk 600 crore has been submitted for the establishment of a Marine Fisheries Research Institute in Kuakata for proper utilization and research of marine resources. In order to make all the facilities in the university attractive and as planned, a DPP is being prepared to prepare a physical master plan including the main campus, the ANSVM faculty in Barisal and the proposed Marine Fisheries Research Institute in Kuakata. It will be submitted to the Ministry of Education soon.
Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Iktiar Uddin said, "I call upon all our teachers, researchers and students to keep the light of knowledge and human service burning. This university is not just an institution built of bricks and stones, it is a symbol of our pride, the address of our dreams."
Treasurer Professor Md. Abdul Latif said, "On the 23rd birthday of our beloved Paviprabi, I believe that with our combined efforts, Paviprabi will become even more prosperous in the coming days and will open new horizons in knowledge and research."
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. SM Hemayet Jahan said on the occasion of the university's 23rd birthday, "On this historic moment of 23 years of glory and tradition, we honor the achievements of our past and resolve to move forward with the promise of new possibilities and innovations on the path to the future. Our goal will be to achieve excellence in technology, research, and creativity, so that we can play a greater role in the development of the nation."
Vice-Chancellor, distinguished educationist and researcher Professor Dr. Kazi Rafiqul Islam said, "Today is the 23rd founding anniversary of our beloved university! This is not just a number, but a glorious history, success, and legacy. On this occasion, I extend my heartfelt greetings and congratulations to every member of the university and the countrymen, including those who contributed to the establishment of the university."
The Vice Chancellor further said, the seed that was planted 23 years ago has turned into a glory today. Through knowledge, research and innovation, we have consolidated our position in the country and the world. Our former and current students, teachers and researchers have taken this institution to unique heights with their talent and hard work. Let us all work together so that our university becomes a unique world-class institution in the future. Congratulations and best wishes to everyone on this auspicious day of the 23rd anniversary!
