8 more pvt universities get govt nod

The government approved eight new private universities yesterday.
Of them, two will be set up in Dhaka and one each in Rajshahi, Sylhet, Narayanganj, Shariatpur, Chuadanga and Kishoreganj.
With these, the number of private universities in the country will rise to 62. At present, Dhaka alone has 43 private universities.
“Before giving the approval, we've considered the expansion of higher education outside Dhaka,” said education secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury.
Those approved in Dhaka are European University of Bangladesh and BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology.
The other universities are Borendra University in Rajshahi, North East University in Sylhet, Hamdard University in Narayanganj, ZH Sikder University of Science and Technology in Shariatpur, First Capital University in Chuadanga and Esha Kha University in Kishoreganj.
Awami League lawmaker Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir is the main initiator of European University of Bangladesh, sources in the education ministry said. They added that Afzal Mia is the prime initiator of North East University and freedom fighter Solaiman Haque Joarder of First Capital University.
After the passage of the Private University Act in the Jatiya Sangsad in July 2010, the government decided to allow some new universities.
Soon after, some political leaders and businessmen submitted applications to the education ministry.
The ministry received some 92 applications, 21 of them for setting up universities in Dhaka.