Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur

The Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (abbreviated as BRUR), formerly Rangpur University, is a public research university in Rangpur, Bangladesh. Founded in 2008, it is the only generally categorized university in Rangpur Division and the second public university in the region. It was named after the feminist writer and social worker Begum Rokeya.

Campus
The university is between Rangpur Cadet College and Carmichael College in Rangpur. It covers an area of 75 acre. The university has constructed four academic buildings and started classes in August 2011 on the main campus. Currently, the university has 22 departments and almost 7,000 students. It contains three student halls (two male and one female). There is a library and a cafeteria on the campus.

History
Since 1947, a university in this region has been a long-cherished dream. Popular demand for a kind of university that can reach out to a large number of students desiring higher education in this vast region has always been intensely felt but has never been fulfilled. In 2001, the then Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, laid the foundations of Rangpur University of Science and Technology. However, later on, the establishment was canceled.

It was not until August 2007 when Fakhruddin Ahmed, chief advisor of the Caretaker Government, agreed in principle to establish a full-fledged university in Rangpur. Fakhruddin Ahmad, in a historic cabinet meeting held in Rangpur on 2 February 2008, decided to establish a university in Rangpur. The Rangpur University Ordinance was approved by the cabinet on 15 June 2008. M. Lutfar Rahman was appointed the first vice-chancellor on 20 October 2008. Two days later Hossain Zillur Rahman, the then education and commerce advisor to the Caretaker Government formally inaugurated the university.

Administration

 * Vice-Chancellor (VC): Md. Hasibur Rashid
 * Pro Vice-Chancellor: Sarifa Salowa Dina

Administrative officers

 * Registrar: Engr. Md. Alamgir Chowdhury
 * Assistant Registrar: Md. Khairul Islam
 * Treasurer: Md. Hasibur Rashid
 * Proctor: Md. Golam Rabbani
 * Provosts:
 * Komolesh Chandra Sarkar, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall
 * Shafiqur Rahman, Sohid Mukhtar Elahi Hall

Undergraduate programs

 * BSc (Engineering)
 * BSc (Hons.)
 * B.A. (Hons.)
 * B.B.A. (Hons.)
 * B.S.S. (Hons.)

Graduate programs

 * MSc (Engineering)
 * MSc
 * M.A.
 * M.B.A.
 * M.S.S.

Post Graduate programs

 * MPhil (MPhil leading to PhD)
 * PhD

Other programs

 * M.B.A. (Evening)

Faculties and departments
BRUR has 22 departments under six faculties.

Admission
BRUR enrolls undergraduate students. Students who want to get admitted need to pass and compete on the merit list in the admission test which is highly competitive. Admission tests are arranged by the university under the authority of the admission council for all faculties.

Statistics based on academic year 2014–15 admission:
 * Total applicants: 90,402
 * Total seats available: 1,258
 * Average applicant-to-seat ratio: 72:1.
 * Acceptance rate: 1.39%

Central Library and Information Center
The Central Library and Information Center (CLIC) of Begum Rokeya University was established on 12 October 2008 to support the instructional and research programs of the university. The vice-chancellor opened all activities of CLIC on 19 November 2009.

Initially, CLIC started functioning at the temporary campus of the university (Teachers' Training College, Rangpur). It was shifted to the permanent campus on 19 March 2011. This library and information center has large reading rooms with huge resources such as books, journals, periodicals, etc. The director is Porimol Chandra Barman.

Institute
Dr. Wazed Research and Training Institute. MPhil & PhD degrees are offered at this institute. The institute is one of the few institutes exclusively designed for MPhil and PhD programs in the country. It also offers an MPhil leading to a PhD.



Political organisations

 * Bangladesh Chatra League
 * Jatiyo Chatra Somaj
 * Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal
 * Student Union
 * Somajtantrik Chatro Front

For male students

 * Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall
 * Sohid Mukhtar Elahi Hall

For female students

 * Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall
 * Sheikh Hasina Hall (under construction)

Monuments

 * Liberation Monument
 * Sohid Minar

Academic

 * Four academic buildings
 * Central Library
 * Dr. Wazed Research and Training Institute (DWRTI)

Administration

 * Administrative Building

Facilities

 * In-campus medical facilities
 * Own bus transportation service
 * Central Library with Computer lab & seminar libraries in departments
 * Cafeteria
 * Central Mosque
 * Cyber Center