The University of Chittagong(Bengali: চট্টগ্রাম বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়) also known as Chittagong University (CU), is a public research university located in Chittagong, Bangladesh. It was established on 18 November 1966. It is the fifth oldest university of Bangladesh. Having an area of 2,312.32 acres (935.76 ha) campus, CU is the largest university in Bangladesh. It is one of the four autonomous universities of Bangladesh.

Facilities

Library

Chittagong University, 1970
Chittagong University Library

Chittagong University's collection of about 350,000 books, and over 40,000 bound journals is housed in a 56,700 square feet (5,270 m2) library built in 1990.

Chittagong University Museum

Chittagong University Museum was established in 1973 with artifacts from the History Department, including fossils found amongst the Nasirabad hills. It has subsequently accumulated an extensive collection of historical artifacts and paintings. In 2016, The Daily Star donated a Chittagong history archive to the museum.

University shuttle train

Faculty of Science

The university shuttle train is operated by Bangladesh Railway eastern division and monitored by university authority. Trains leave Chattogram railway station and Sholoshohor railway station, and city-bound trains leave Chattogram University railway station.

Shuttle graffiti

Chittagong University shuttle trains have a long history of graffiti art. There were allegations it was being used by rival political groups to assert influence over train compartments. Following clashes in April 2011 between five compartment-based groups that left at least eight students injured, the university expelled 11 students and banned all forms of compartment-based organizational activities, including the posting of posters, leaflets, and graffiti on the trains. Eleven years after that incident, German artist Lukas Zeilinger, accompanied by Livia, his wife, and Arup Barua, a teacher at the Department of Dramatics of the university, painted the carriages once again. The project was self-funded by the Zeiligers as part of their art project.

Chittagong University Central Students' Union

CUCSU Bhaban

Chittagong University Central Students' Union is the official students' union of the University of Chittagong.[AI-retrieved source] It is commonly known as CUCSU. Its aim is to represent Chittagong University students in the university's decision-making, and to give a voice to the students in the national higher education policy debate, and to provide direct services to the student body. It was established in 1966. Its current constitution was adopted in 2025.

Academic

Faculties10
Departments54
Institute7
Research center6
Affiliated educational institutions21

Faculty

Abdul Karim Building, Faculty of Arts
AK Khan Building, Faculty of Law
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Social Sciences
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Life Sciences
Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries

As of 2024, Chittagong University has 54 departments under 9 faculties.

FacultyEstablishedDepartment
Faculty of Arts and Humanities196614
Faculty of Law196601
Faculty of Science196905
Faculty of Business Administration197006
Faculty of Social Sciences1971after 710
Faculty of Engineering200102
Faculty of Biological Sciences09
Faculty of Education01
Faculty of Medicine01
Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries201902

Institutes

Chittagong University currently has 7 institutes

  • Institute of Education and Research
  • Fine Arts Institute
  • Institute of Modern Languages
  • Community Ophthalmology Institute
  • Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences
  • Institute of Marine Science
  • Social Science Research Institute

Research centers

The university currently has 6 research centers.

  • Jamal Nazrul Islam Mathematics and Physical Science Research Centre
  • Nazrul Research Centre
  • Bureau of Business Research
  • Center for Social Science Research
  • Chittagong University Center for Business Administration
  • Center for Asian Studies

Affiliated educational institutions

There are currently some educational institutions under Chittagong University:

College of Engineering

  1. Newcastle University College, Chittagong

Institute

  1. Chittagong Institute of Technology, Chittagong
  2. Chittagong Institute of Fashion and Technology, Chittagong

Other

  1. Home Economics College, Chittagong

Library

Chittagong University Central Library is the largest library in Chittagong and one of the richest libraries in the country.[citation needed] The current collection in this library is around 350,000, which includes rare books, journals, audio-visual material, manuscripts and Braille books for the blind. At the inauguration of the university in November 1966, the library started with only 300 books. The library moved to its current building in November 1990. The three-storied library has separate rooms for students, researchers and teachers. There is also an auditorium in the library building. Photocopying facilities are available in the library. The library also has facilities for daily reading of national and regional newspapers. The library is currently under automation.

Medical Center

Chittagong University Medical Center is located near the law faculty of the university. It works to provide free medical care and pathological examination for university students, faculty and staff. Apart from this, free medical care is also provided to the family members of teachers and staff. This medical center has round-the-clock services every day of the week, where doctors provide medical care on a rotating basis. This center has 11 doctors and 4 ambulances. There are also 6 temporary beds in the medical center premises.[citation needed]

Campus

Residential halls

As of 2022[update], there are 14 residential halls at the university, of which 9 are for male and 5 for female students.

Male student halls
Estd.StudentsNamed for
Male student halls Estd. Students Named for Alawal Hall 1966 260 Alaol Atish Dipankar Srigyan Hall 2014 550 Atiśa A F Rahman Hall 1966 258 Ahmad Fazlur Rahman Shahjalal Hall 1974 475 Shah Jalal Suhrawardy Hall 1974 375 Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy Shah Amanat Hall 1977 632 Shah Amanat Shaheed Abdur Rab Hall 1994 509 Abdur Rab Masterda Surya Sen Hall (male & female block) 2010 204 Surya Sen Shaheed Forhad Hall 2014 1000 Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Female student halls Estd. Students Named for Shamsun Nahar Hall 676 Shamsunnahar Mahmud Pritilata Hall 531 Pritilata Waddedar Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia Hall 500 Khaleda Zia Nawab Faizunnesa Hall 312 Nawab Faizunnesa Bijoy 24 Hall 2015 500 Bangladesh quota reform movement Hostels Estd Students Shilpi Rashid Chowdhury Hostel For Fine Arts students Govinda Gunalanker Hostel 1996 For Buddhists
Alawal Hall1966260Alaol
Atish Dipankar Srigyan Hall2014550Atiśa
A F Rahman Hall1966258Ahmad Fazlur Rahman
Shahjalal Hall1974475Shah Jalal
Suhrawardy Hall1974375Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy
Shah Amanat Hall1977632Shah Amanat
Shaheed Abdur Rab Hall1994509Abdur Rab
Masterda Surya Sen Hall (male & female block)2010204Surya Sen
Shaheed Forhad Hall20141000Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Estd.StudentsNamed for
Shamsun Nahar Hall676Shamsunnahar Mahmud
Pritilata Hall531Pritilata Waddedar
Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia Hall500Khaleda Zia
Nawab Faizunnesa Hall312Nawab Faizunnesa
Bijoy 24 Hall2015500Bangladesh quota reform movement
EstdStudents
Shilpi Rashid Chowdhury HostelFor Fine Arts students
Govinda Gunalanker Hostel1996For Buddhists
  • A F Rahman Hall
  • Shahjalal Hall
  • Suhrawardy Hall
  • Bangabandhu Hall
  • Shah Amanat Hall
  • Masterda Surya Sen Hall
  • Shamsun Nahar Hall
  • Pritilata Hall
  • Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia Hall
  • Sheikh Hasina Hall
  • Shaheed Abdur Rab Hall
  • Govinda Gunalanker Hostel
  • Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall

Vice chancellors

A R Mallick1966-1972
U N Siddiqui1971-1972
M Innas Ali1972-1973
Abul Fazal1973-1975
Abdul Karim1975-1981
M A Aziz Khan1981-1985
Mohammad Ali1985-1988
Alamgir Muhammad Serajuddin1988-1991
Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury1991-1996
Abdul Mannan1996-2001
Fazle Hossain2001-2002
A J M Nuruddin Chowdhury2002-2006
Badiul Alam2006-2009
Abu Yousuf2009-2010
Alauddin2010-2011
Anwarul Azim Arif2011-2015
Emran Hossain2013-2013
Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury2015-2019
Shireen Akhter2019-19 March 2024
Md. Abu Taher20 March 2024 - 12 August 2024

Pro Vice-chancellors

Md. Ali Imdad Khan1987-1989
M. Badiul Alam1991-1996
Abu Yousuf1996-2001
Md. Anwarul Azim Arif2001-2001
Mohammad Shamsuddin2001-2005
Md. Alauddin2009-2013
Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury2013-2015
Shireen Akhter2016-2019
Benu Kumar Dey2020–Present
M. Sekander Chowdhury2024–Present

Notable faculty and alumni members

Faculty

Jamal Nazrul Islam

Alumni

Gallery

Main entrance
Faculty of Biological Science
Teachers' dormitory
Marine Science building
Graffiti of Chittagong University

External links