The government will set up a new public university, “Sheikh Hasina Agricultural University”, in Shariatpur with a view to expanding higher education in the country.

Education Ministry’s Secondary and Higher Education Division on Tuesday sent a letter signed by its Deputy Secretary Md Mahmudul Alam to the University Grants Commission (UGC) in this regard.

In the letter, the Education Ministry told the UGC that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave the approval in principle to establish Sheikh Hasina Agricultural University.

The ministry asked the UGC to formulate a time-befitting draft law to found the university and submit the draft to the division of the ministry concerned.

On June 10, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave approval in principle to set up the new public university following an application submitted by Shariatpur-2 lawmaker and Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Haque Shamim.

Expressing his gratitude to the premier, Enamul Haque Shamim said, “Sheikh Hasina Agricultural University will play a major role in socio-economic changes in the agriculturally dependent southern region of the country.

“A number of higher education seekers can’t enrol at public universities due to a lack of seats. The new university will solve the problem.”

On hearing the news, locals have hailed the Prime Minister for giving approval for the university. They also thanked the water resources deputy minister for materializing the dream of the local people.