Feature

German University in Bangladesh (GUB): A New Initiative

Harun Rashid

An initiative has been taken to found a university namely `German University in Bangladesh` at Sakhipur in Tangail district. Prof. Dr. Saifullah Khandker, a Bangladeshi professor living in Germany has taken the initiative. A faculty of German Technical University of Berlin, Prof. Khandker said that the proposed university will introduce non-traditional fields of study particularly in agricultural science and technology and it will train highly qualified professionals to meet the challenges of current development. He at the same time ensured that the course academic curriculum would be relevant to the existing needs in Bangladesh.

Prof. Khandker has primarily talked with eminent personalities, academicians in the country and bodies like University Grant Commission, Foreign Ministry and concerned government departments and got encouraging response. He is hopeful in getting the same positive response and co-operation from Germany too.

A team including professors of various German Universities are likely to come to Bangladesh next November. They will visit the proposed land in Sakhipur (Tangail) and also evaluate the viability of the project.

According to Dr. Khandker, the proposed University aims to bring a new dimension in higher education in Bangladesh. This will also establish new forms of co-operation in education and research between Bangladesh and Germany.

The dreamer
Prof. Dr. Saifullah Khandker was born in a middle class family in a village of Ghatail Upazilla of Tangail district. He studied Environmental Science and Microbiology in Technical University of Berlin and completed his MS and PhD thesis there. He joined as a researcher in `German Federal Institute for Health' and directed the project on Marine Environment. For last 30 years he engaged himself in teaching and research work in various Universities in Germany and USA.

In course of his working abroad, he has never forgotten his country and countrymen. He was always looking for a way to engage his experience and expertise for the betterment of the country. In 2003, a thought came to his mind that, if there can be a `German University in Cairo` then why not a `German University in Bangladesh`? From then on he began to nurture the dream of establishing a world-class university in Bangladesh. To materialise his dream he began to contact eminent academician and professors in Germany. To mention the name, Prof. Dr. Thomas M Klapotke, CChem FRSC, chief of Inorganic Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Prof. Dr.med. Michael Krawinkel, Justus-Liebig-Universitat Gieben, Germany played a big role. They helped in drafting initial papers, rules and regulations and syllabus for the university.

GUB- Key Features
The proposed University (GUB) will be non-profit, donation based institution. It will be run with the financial support of education-enthusiastic people of Germany and Bangladesh. Meanwhile, local people of Sakhipur have already donated 20 acre of land for the university.

Bangladesh is an agriculture based country. In this context, academic syllabus will focus on the subjects relevant to the need of Bangladesh, i.e. Environmental Technology, Food Technology and Human Nutrition, Agriculture Science, Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Toxicology, Environmental Health Science etc.

Prof. Khandker seeks help and support from all potential persons to help translate the dream into reality.