by Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, Jan 31 (BSS) - The government approval for launching RDRS University, ready for its academic activities here for a long, might usher in a new era for higher education in the country's economically backward northern region.

Authorities of the private sector nonprofit-based RDRS University are now expecting the approval soon to launch its academic activities from July next in the newly-launched divisional city of Rangpur.

Thousands of meritorious students of the region have been failing to get higher education for inadequate number of universities and many of them from poorer families end their chapters from the HSC levels for decades together.

As a result, the desired advancements of the region are not being achieved though there is no alternative to quality higher and need-based specialised education for building a developed digital Bangladesh.

Inhabited by four crore people, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Haji Danesh Science and Technology University and Begum Rokeya University can admit now only 6,140 students annually, in the region.

Some 37,272 students were eligible for getting admissions in these universities after getting A-Grade in the 2009 HSC exams under Rajshahi and Dinajpur Education Boards, but, 31,132 of them remained deprived of getting admissions this year.

Most of the brilliant students including the females belonging to the poorer families of the region cannot go for admission to the country's other universities because of their financial constraints and other limitations.

Besides, many brilliant students of the other regions are getting admissions in these four universities further reducing the scopes for the students of the northern region for getting higher varsity education.

Under these realities, RDRS has already set up the University in Rangpur six years ago to pave the way for higher, need-based and specialized education with international standard for achieving sustainable developments in the region.

RDRS officials today told that the varsity was set up for ensuring need- based higher education, imparting necessary trainings, advocacy and strengthening research activities for developments.

"We hope to get the government approval now as Cabinet of the Ministers of the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already approved the Private University Act very recently," they said.

The university has all necessary preparations to start academic activities for 10 subjects in six departments from July next after appointing 30 permanent Professors and Associate Professors and other teachers and admitting students.

About 500 students can get admission in every semester and a total of 1,500 students can be accommodated in three semesters from the current academic session that begins from July this year, they said.

The number of departments and subjects including Engineering and Computer Science will be launched and seats will be raised up to 5,000 in the University in subsequent years with ongoing expansions of its infrastructures and facilities.

RDRS authorities submitted application along with Taka five crore in 2003 for getting approval of the varsity, bought 20 acres of land at Taka two crore and constructed 32,000 square feet academic buildings at Taka five crore long ago.

Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and other teams visited the proposed university since 2006 and submitted their recommendations for giving approval for RDRS University to the Ministry of Education in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

The varsity authorities brought the issue into the notices of Prime Minister's Advisor for Education, Social Development and Political Affairs Prof DR. Alauddin Ahmed, President of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education Ministry Rashed Khan Menon MP and Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid.

Experts and educationists are now waiting for launching of RDRS University soon and thanked the government for setting up the long- cherished Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur to create opportunities for higher education.

RDRS University has been conducting huge research activities under bi- lateral agreements signed with the reputed universities, research institutions and extension departments of the USA, European Union and other countries.

Huge researches on climate changes, poverty alleviation, condition and situation of the poor, destitute and distressed people and formulating strategies for sustainable social development are being conducted at the varsity by both local and foreign researchers.

Some 54 local and foreign students have already completed their MS courses, 43 foreign students completed their internships and two completed their Ph.D. research works and two are conducting the same under the RDRS University.

The university will realize monthly tuition fees ranging between Taka 3,000 and 4,500 from the students and try to create job opportunities in the ongoing huge development activities of RDRS in the country.