Photo: BSS

CHITTAGONG UNIVERSITY, July 23, 2026 (BSS) - Chittagong University (CU) today launched the construction of a new six-storey annex building for the Jamal Nazrul Islam Research Center of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (JNIRCMPS), marking a significant step toward expanding the university's research infrastructure.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohammad Al-Forkan inaugurated the construction work by unveiling the foundation stone of the building beside the existing research centre this afternoon.

CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Dr. Mohammed Al-Amin, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Dr. Md. Safiqul Islam and Acting Chief Engineer Abdul Ahad attended the ceremony.

Addressing the event, the Vice-Chancellor said the university is placing strong emphasis on research and that the new facility would strengthen research activities while creating greater academic opportunities for students.

Established in 1986 by internationally acclaimed physicist and mathematician Professor Jamal Nazrul Islam, the research centre had not seen any major expansion over the past four decades, according to university sources. 

The long-awaited extension project has now commenced with financial support from the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The current project, valued at Tk 9 crore, involves the construction of a six-storey building. Project Director and CU Executive Engineer (Civil) Md. Ilias Chowdhury said the university has also prepared a broader development master plan worth about Tk 40 crore for the nearly 38,000-square-foot research centre complex.

Under the proposed master plan, the campus will feature a six-storey academic building covering around 11,000 square feet, an 8,500-square-foot auditorium, a 10,000-square-foot plaza and lily pond, and a parking area of about 2,500 square feet.

Md. Ilias Chowdhury said the ongoing project includes a building with a six-storey foundation, with the first two floors expected to be completed and handed over to the university within one year. Construction of the remaining floors will depend on future UGC funding.

According to the work order, construction began on July 9 and is scheduled for completion by July 9, 2027.