ABOUT

A BRIEF HISTORY

The demand to establish an Islamic University on the soil of Bangladesh has a long and glorious history. As the result of an outstanding sacrifice and systematic movement on the part of Islam-loving teachers, students, intelligentsia and professionals of this country, and recommendations of various Education Commissions over the years, came out the declaration on the part of the government of establishment of an Islamic University in the country on December 1, 1976. Finally, on recommendation of a seven-member Islamic University Planning Committee headed by Professor Dr. M. A. Bari, The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh materialized the declaration by laying the foundation stone of today’s Islamic University at Shantidanga-Dulalpur on November 22, 1979. Next year, on December 27, 1980 Islamic University Act was passed in the National Parliament of Bangladesh.

On January 31, 1981 the Government appointed the Project Director Dr. A. N. M. Mamtajuddin Choudhury the first Vice-Chancellor of Islamic University. The University began operating at Shantidanga-Dulalpur campus in 1981. However, by a Presidential Ordinance passed on May 15, 1982 the university was shifted from Shantidanga-Dulalpur to Boardbazar campus in the district of Gazipur. The university’s academic activities were formally inaugurated there in the academic year 1985-1986 with 300 students enrolled in four Departments under two Faculties – Department of Al Quran Wa-Ulumul Quran and Department of Ulumut Tawahid Wad-Dawah under the Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies and Department of Accounting and Department of Management under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The academic year 1987-88 started with two more departments – Department of Al-Qanun Wash Sariah under the Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies and Department of Economics under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

On December 28, 1988 the Government appointed Professor Dr. Mohammad Sirajul Islam (Department of Islamic History and Culture, University of Dhaka) the Vice-Chancellor of the University. While the infrastructural development and academic activities on the Boardbazar campus were in full swing the University was shifted back to Shantidanga-Dulalpur campus in 1989. With the construction works on the main campus in progress, the university’s academic and administrative activities continued temporarily at the Primary Training Institute (PTI) premises, and in some rented buildings of Kushtia town. In the academic year 1990-91, the University opened five new departments under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Bengali Language and Literature, Department of English Language and Literature, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Department of Islamic History and Culture, and Department of Politics and Public Administration.

On June 06, 1991 the Government appointed Professor Dr. Muhammad Abdul Hamid (Department of Economics, University of Rajshahi) the Vice-Chancellor of the University. Subsequently the University opened one more department – Department of Al Hadith and Islamic Studies under the Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies. The University’s academic and administrative activities started on the University’s main campus on November 1, 1992, having completed a number of construction works including an academic building, two residential halls, an administrative building and some apartments. During the tenure of Professor Hamid, the First Convocation of Islamic University was held in 1993 and was presided over by the then Chancellor of the University and the Prime Minister of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia.

On May 9, 1995 the Government appointed Professor Dr. Muhammad Inam-Ul Hoque (Department of Islamic History and Culture, University of Chittagong) the Vice-Chancellor of the University. The then administration renamed a Faculty as the Faculty of Law and Shariah and opened three departments – Department of Electronics and Applied Physics, Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology, and the Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science under the new Faculty of Applied Science and Technology.

On September 3, 1997 Professor Mohammad Qaisuddin (Department of Bio-Chemistry, University of Rajshahi) was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the University. The then authority introduced four-year Bachelors Program instead of three-year system and opened three more departments – Department of Information Science and Technology, Department of Bio-Technology and Department of Applied Nutrition and Food Science under the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology. The then Chancellor of Islamic University and the Prime Minister of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina presided over the University’s Second Convocation held on December 5, 1999.

On October 10, 2000 Professor Muhammad Lutfor Rahman (Department of Chemistry, University of Rajshahi) was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the University. He held the office only for one year.

On December 10, 2001 the Government appointed Professor Dr. Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman (Department of Arabic, University of Dhaka) the Vice-Chancellor of the University. During the tenure of Professor Rahman, the Third Convocation of Islamic University was held on March 28, 2002 and was presided over by the then Chancellor of the University and the Prime Minister of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia.

On April 3, 2004 Professor M. Rafiqul Islam (Department of Economics, University of Rajshahi) was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the University. The authority opened the Department of Al Fiqh under the Faculty of Law and Shariah and Department of Mathematics under the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology that time. Professor Islam’s tenure also observed the University’s Silver Jubilee Festival on November 30, 2004.

On August 10, 2006 the Government appointed Professor Faez Mohammad Serajul Hoque (Department of English, Islamic University, Kushtia) the Vice-Chancellor of the University. He held the office for two and half years.

On March 9, 2009 the Government appointed Professor M. Alauddin (Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Islamic University, Kushtia), and Professor Md. Kamal Uddin (Department of Economics, Islamic University, Kushtia) respectively the Vice-Chancellor and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University. Professor Kamal is the first Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University. The administration headed by Prof. Alauddin opened two new departments, namely the Department of Statistics under the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology and the Department of Finance and Banking under the Faculty of Business Administration, to start functioning from the Academic Year 2009-2010. These are.

At present, Professor Dr. Abdul Hakim Sarker is the Vice-Chancellor of the University.

Islamic University, having started its academic activities on June 28, 1986 now has about 10 thousand regular students studying in 22 Academic Departments under five Faculties. The main objective of the University is to provide for instructions in theology and other fields of Islamic studies and comparative jurisprudence and such other branches of learning at graduate and post-graduate levels and make provisions for research including post-doctorate research and training for advancement and dissemination of knowledge. The university is also the affiliating authority of Fazil and Kamil Madrasahs in the country.

ABOUT BIPSS

Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) is a non-party, non-profit organization and independent think tank devoted to studying peace and security issues related South and Southeast Asia. The institute seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and policy analysis within the context of Bangladesh and other countries of South and Southeast Asia. The leading strategic thinkers, academicians, former members of the Civil Services, Foreign Services, Armed Forces and media persons are associated with the Institute in its endeavour to chalk out a comprehensive framework for peace and security studies.

Risk Assesment and Analysis Unit (BIPSS-RAAU)
In the world of international business and investment, risk assessment and analysis occupies an important space. This is particularly critical in developing countries like Bangladesh with fragile state institutions, frequent occurrence of social instability and now further compounded with the threat of militancy and terrorism. In this risk and threat environment, it is essential for private business and multinational corporations to get a comprehensive analysis of these events on a regular and sustained basis.
BIPSS has a dedicated capacity to monitor and analyse all such events on a continuous basis. Our access and information sharing arrangement with specialised international centres provides another angle to view this critical space. Our research staff members have dedicated expertise on these issues and conduct regular and periodic studies. We are able to provide general assessment and analysis or customised analysis and assessment of specific field or area of activity. Our assessments are normally comprehensive in nature which also offer suggestions and policy recommendations for taking appropriate measures for private sector companies.
Please contact BIPSS for any queries or requirements on the above.

Mission

Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) has a four-part mission:

  • to create a dynamic hub of activity that bridges the academic, researchers and policy communities.
  • to bring together people from every relevant discipline as well as from different platforms who study regional and international peace and security issues.
  • to produce a new generation of scholars, analysts, and policymakers that is fully aware of the complexities of international peace and security problems.
  • to sponsor projects that will lead to the development of sophisticated strategies and practical policies for enhancing international peace and security in the 21st century.

To contribute, through its academic program, to the process of building a community of South Asia knowledgeable on issues of traditional and non-traditional/human security and transnational security, with a common appreciation of the threats to security in South Asia and to enhance their effective participation in various policy/governance processes.

 

  • To assist the evolution and consolidation of stable, secure and accountable governments through the building of capacity across various sectors;
  • To develop a comprehensive approach to human security in which local ownership is central;
  • To periodically produce accurate and timely annotated analysis of the security and human right situation in the South Asian region, which will be useful to various actors working to deepen democracy and prevent conflict in the region and beyond;
  • To assist the defense and security sector review process globally with a particular focus on South Asian countries on the basis of national consensus developed from the bottom up;
  • To encourage a dialogue between South Asian civil society, governments, and the security forces on security sector reform and conflict prevention;
  • To encourage the interest of younger scholars in human security and prepare them for careers in various fields of policy/governance;
  • To work with regional institutions on security sector transformation and rights based development and encourage them to see the relevance of capacity building for their work;
  • To work towards peace building and peace consolidation in the region as well as globally;

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