Academic and Research Activities to be Top Priority at RU

Rajshahi University (RU) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Saleh Hassan Naquib, has affirmed that academic and research activities will be prioritised at the university to help develop a competent workforce for the country.

Speaking to media at his office on Thursday, the Vice-Chancellor stated, “We have already implemented several need-based initiatives, such as appointing qualified teachers, allowing student evaluations of faculty, ensuring a conducive academic environment, and banning political activities for both students and teachers on campus.”

He further highlighted the university’s efforts to eliminate the practice of political group dominance and the trading of rooms and seats in student dormitories. “This effort to ensure a purely academic environment in the halls will continue,” he said.

Professor Naquib emphasised the importance of bringing students back to the classroom, noting that classes for newly admitted first-year honours students will begin on Sunday.

“We are committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in our academic activities,” he said, adding that transforming students into capable citizens is essential to addressing the growing problem of unemployment.

Reducing session delays will also be a key focus to ensure the best outcomes for students, the Vice-Chancellor added.

Professor Naquib, who assumed his role as RU Vice-Chancellor on 5th September, remarked that a new era has emerged in Bangladesh following the anti-discriminatory student movement, which has opened up significant opportunities for the country’s progress.

“We will work to turn these opportunities into reality through our academic and research endeavours,” he said, pledging to make arrangements that reflect the hopes and aspirations of the general public.

He also acknowledged that the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU) has been inactive for nearly 35 years, describing this as unfortunate for the institution.

“We will hold discussions with all stakeholders, particularly student organisations, to resolve the deadlock as soon as possible,” he stated.

Professor Naquib believes that restoring RUCSU will provide an excellent platform for fostering leadership among students, and all necessary steps will be taken to achieve this goal.

Following the fall of the previous regime on 5th August 2024, an administrative vacuum emerged at the university, with the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellors, and other key officials resigning from their posts, which had a negative impact on the university's normal operations.

Professor Naquib assured that these vacant positions are being filled quickly to restore the smooth running of both administrative and academic activities.

Currently, the university, the second largest in the country, has approximately 33,000 students, including 20 international students, and 1,200 teachers across 59 departments under 10 faculties and five institutes.

The Vice-Chancellor also expressed the university’s commitment to increasing the number of foreign students.