The University Grants Commission (UGC) has given preliminary approval to open six departments at Thakurgaon University, subject to eight conditions.
The university had proposed 15 departments under seven faculties as part of preparations to begin academic activities. After reviewing the proposal, a UGC committee recommended approval for six departments.
Vice-Chancellor Mohammad Israfil confirmed the development to BSS on Saturday, saying the university authorities were pleased with the preliminary approval.
The decision was conveyed in a letter signed by Md Mahibul Ahsan, additional director of the UGC’s Public University Management Division, on Thursday.
The approved departments are Artificial Intelligence and Data Science under the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Agriculture under the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Multimedia and Creative Technology under the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Accounting under the Faculty of Business Studies, Environmental Science under the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Public Health under the Faculty of Life Sciences.
Under the UGC conditions, the university must submit house-rent agreements and building plans, academic layouts for three buildings and a municipality-issued no-objection certificate for running the university. The rented buildings must also be made suitable for academic activities as soon as possible.
The university has also been asked to submit course curricula and ensure adequate laboratories, library facilities and other academic infrastructure before launching the programmes.
It must also provide details of the required manpower, including teachers, officers and employees and submit authentic documents relating to 80 acres of clear land acquired in the university’s name.
Israfil said the university was working to admit students in the 2026-27 academic session.
He said the university had already joined the integrated admission test system and that a cluster admission test centre would be established there for the first time.
“We expect the event to create a festive atmosphere in Thakurgaon,” he added.
University sources said administrative activities are currently being conducted from a rented building, while academic activities will initially also be held in rented premises.
The government has approved 8.55 acres of land for the university’s permanent campus. Preparations for a feasibility study, master plan and development project proposal are underway.
Recently, President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir laid the foundation stone of the university’s permanent campus.
