Brac University one of the country’s leading private universities has received a certificate to establish and operate a university permanently. The matter was confirmed to the chairman of the university’s board of trustees by sending a letter from the Private University-1 branch of the Secondary and Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education on Monday (April 28).
The letter states that, in accordance with the opinion of the Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC), a certificate has been issued in favor of Brac University (Pragati Swarani, Bh-224, Merul Badda, Dhaka-1212) for the permanent establishment and operation of the university as per Section 10 of the Private Universities Act, 2010.
According to Section 12(1) of the Private Universities Act 2010, every university has to obtain a permanent charter. The temporary permission given by the government for establishment is for 7 years. After that, if the university authorities apply, the government can extend the period up to a maximum of 5 years in three phases. During this period, they have to establish their own permanent campus on the land specified in the law and start educational activities there. However, since more than 12 years have passed in the meantime, there is no further extension of time for these universities according to the law.
It is known that currently, out of 116 private universities, only a handful have obtained permanent charters. Most of the universities that are running educational programs do not have permanent charters. However, the number of universities that have been operating for more than 12 years is also more than fifty. These universities that have not been able to obtain permanent charters within the stipulated time are ‘lawbreakers’ in the eyes of the UGC.
Meanwhile, one of the country’s leading private universities,’ Brac University, has received permanent status two decades after its establishment. Fazle Hasan Abed founded the university in 2001. At that time, the university’s temporary campus started with just three departments and about 80 students in Mohakhali, Dhaka. Then a couple of years ago the university’s permanent campus started in Merul Badda.
Note: Sources in the Ministry of Education said that the university was located on land in the name of BRAC NGO. The Ministry has made it clear that the land should be in the name of the university. After exchanging letters for more than 15 years, the university has received a permanent certificate.
Footnote: That is, within 12 years, it will have to establish its own permanent campus on the land specified in the law and start educational activities there. After the specified period, the university will be considered a lawbreaker. Accordingly, after running its activities in violation of the law for about 12 years, Brac University has finally received its certificate.