The New Nation - Internet Edition

Professor M Zahidul Haque

This refers to a letter by one Mr. Mostafiz (ref: New Nation dt.7/7/08) which he has written in support of one Prof.SAM's letter, which published in 'The Daily Star' dt.4/7/08 on the above subject. In reality, the letter of Prof.SAM had never been published in 'The New Nation'! Still Mr.Mostafiz has quoted it in his letter under reference. I smell some fishy things in these two gentlemen's intention behind start writing on a issue which is totally irrelevant and uncalled for! Anyway I would like to give the same reply which I have already dispatched to the Daily Star.

Disapproving the existence of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) inside the capital city, Dhaka, Prof. SAM has suggested to correct the mistake in establishing SAU at the present location. Well, for his kind information I would like to say that it took nearly 20 years for the charismatic leader Sher-e- Bangla A K Fazlul Haq to make this costly mistake of establishing SAU, the then Bengal Agricultural Institute in the heart of Dhaka. It was in 1938 Sher-e-Bangla A K Fazlul Haq

being the Chief Minister of Bengal had succeeded in convincing the then British Govt. to setting up this historical agriculture institution (now SAU) in Dhaka so that students from remotest parts of Bengal (particularly East Bengal) could come here to get advanced and modern education in the field of agricultural science. Since then this institution till today has been performing a pioneering role in the promotion of agricultural education, research and extension. Isn't it logical to have an agric varsity in the capital city of the agro-based Bangladesh where students from different parts of Bangladesh come to pursue higher agricultural education?

Of course with acquiring of land by the govt. at present, the SAU is remained with nearly 85 acres of land out of its original more than 300 acres acquired by the then British govt. In order to keeping the farm-based education and research run smoothly, the govt. has already created provision in the latest development project for strengthening of SAU for setting up farms and new faculties like fisheries and animal science outside the Dhaka campus through acquisition of land near Dhaka.

Prof. SAM who didn't mention the name of the university/college he is serving also asked to merge SAU with Bangabandhu Agric Varsity. The question is, whether it is possible to merge one university to another? Would Prof.SAM appreciate merging his college/university with another one?

Prof. SAM has only mentioned about the existence of three public universities situated within the same agro-ecological zone. But there is at least one private agric varsity namely, International University of Business Agriculture & Technology (IUBAT) which is located in the same zone (Uttara). As far as I know, some reputed private universities in the Dhaka city are contemplating to open agriculture school/faculty for offering up-to-date agric education with a view to ensuring food security and development of the country.

Meanwhile for the information of Mr.Mostafiz I would like to say that there is Haji Mohammad Danesh University of Science & Technology in the Nothern zone of the country(Dinajpur) which is an agric, varsity and a Faculty of Agriculture at Rajshahi University.

So, instead of asking to shift SAU elsewhere, everyone should suggest us how to improve our course curriculum and instructions.