People know Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University as a little village in the concrete jungle of the capital city Dhaka, because its atmosphere is in sharp contrast with the other parts of the city. Being the only agricultural university in the capital, serenity and green marshy land of the university make it the most attractive place for the city people.
Background: SAU was established as Bengal Agricultural Institute (BAI) in December 1938 by Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq, the then chief minister of undivided Bengal. The Bengal Agricultural Institute was renamed East Pakistan Agricultural Institute in 1947. After the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation in 1971, the name of the institute was spontaneously changed to Bangladesh Agricultural Institute (BAI). Since its inception in 1938, the BAI had been functioning as a faculty of agriculture under Dhaka University.
After the establishment of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in Mymensingh in 1961, its academic function was transferred to BAU in 1964 until its upgradation into a university in 2001. SAU became the 17th public university of the country in 2001. The SAU Act 2001 was passed in the Parliament of Bangladesh on 9 July. The foundation stone was laid by the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the 15th July 2001 and inaugurated the university activities through the appointment of the first vice chancellor, Professor Md Sadat Ullah. SAU functioned as a university from 2001 with a single faculty following the issuance of ordnance by the government as per the requirement of SAU Act 2001. On the 22nd June 2009, a bill was placed in the parliament to assign the president as a chancellor. Nearly 5,700 graduates and 600 postgraduates have been produced from SAU. Presently about 3,300 undergraduates and postgraduates are enrolled and taught by the faculty members. Professor Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed is the running vice chancellor of SAU.
Faculty: At present, there are five faculties-- Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agri-Business Management, Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Halls of residence: Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University has three halls-- Sher-e-Bangla Hall, Nowab Siraj-Ud-Doula Hall, Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall for male and two for female students-Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, Krishokrotno Sheikh Hasina Hall. Students either reside in or are attached to a hall of residence. A provost and an assistant provost look after the administration of a hall.
Library: On the west side of academic building the SAU library is situated. It is in a separate three-storied building. About 30,000 scientific books, journals, large number of E-books, comprising the major subjects of agriculture, history of Bangladesh and Liberation War, along with renowned writers' book are showcased on the shelves of the library. Recently the library has increased its interest in e-resources. As a result, it subscribed to JSTOR, Hinari, AGORA, OARE, Oxford Scholarship Online, where a student can easily access. The university has built a digital archive on Agricultural Thesis and Journals (DAATJ) under the funding of UGC-HEQEP.
Research and achievement: The collaboration among teachers, researchers and students of SAU Central Research System (SAURS) was formed, where many modern agricultural techniques were invented. Researchers of SAU invented SAU Sarisha-1, SAU Sarisha-2, SAU Sarisha Radish which can be produced in native atmosphere. 8-10 varieties of rice are waiting to be released, which was invented by a teacher of this university. Prof Dr Md. Sahidur Rashid Bhuiyah invented high yielding variety of mustard. Some teachers conducted researches on onion, various fruits, flowers, Basmati rice, Radish. With the initiative of Dr Ekramul Haque and financial support of university, modern Tissue Culture Lab has been established. Dr AFM Jamal Uddin, professor of Horticulture Department, works on flower. He is the premier of blooming Lasenthirus tree flower in our country. He conducts research of various rose of red, pink, purple, black and green color. Red Baby, Sweet Love, Pink Smile, Charming Lady, Mini- Moni, Lemon Star, Dream Bangla, Pain Blue, Bijoy-71, SAU- King are the invented varieties of him. He observed to decrease of Arsenic on crop with Jahangirnagar University Research Centre. Germ-plasm Centre has been founded at horticulture farm. Various types of native and foreign flowers, fruits, orchids and spices are collecting for germ plasm center. The SAU horticultural farm will be formed to harbor of foreign and rare type nursery crops. SAU Agricultural Extension Department transfers the modern Agricultural technology to the hand of farmer. They have been conducting training on rearing of Duck-Poultry and Modern cultivation of Rice for distant areas farmer of Sirajgonj in collaboration with local NGO. Thereafter they have been conducting training to the farmer of ManikgonjGeor, Sibatoy, Saturia, DoulotpurUpazila. They have transferred the Amon plant and vegetable seed to 2004 and 2009 flood affected people.
ASM Kamal Uddin Ahmed, former student of SAU, has transferred the process of Amitto Banana cultivation all over the country. He invented modern technology of Papaya and Pine-apple cultivation. Dr Nur Mohammad Ali and Dr Siddique Ali former student of SAU invented high yielding variety of rice, like BR-3, BR-4, BR-10, BR-11, BR-14, BR-19, which were recognized not only Bangladesh but also Nepal, Myanmar, Vietnam, South Africa.
Many former students were rewarded President Award, Independent Award, Sher-e-Bangla Award for their outstanding achievements. SAU has conducted research on guava and banana breeding, fungus and vermes disease, the improved variety of betel leaf, bean type crop, pulse crop, wheat variety, rice variety etc.
Research organization: SAU- Research System (SAURS) is known as Wazed Mia Research Centre. Mini weather station is present in the Agricultural field of SAU to forecast weather data for proper research.
Cultural Organization: There are many cultural organizations at SAU such as Language Club, Swapnoshiri, Krishan Theatre, SAU Debating Club, Computer's Club, SAU Photographic Society, Badhon, Bangladesh Study Forum, YES Club, Bandhu-sova, Manob-konto, Suvo-songho
Digitalization: The first digital university of Bangladesh is SAU. Every classroom has the facility to utilize centrally organized multimedia. Country's only virtual classroom is situated at SAU, where student can be connected to worldwide classroom. Many projects including, SAURS, BARC, FAO, HEQEP are running. Krishi-thesis and largest digital archive was built by the leadership of SAU with other agricultural university.
In 2015 at on 15 November SAU held its first convocation, where 22 got gold medal, 2110 graduate and 3 PhD holders got their certificates.
Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University is the pioneer of the field of agriculture. Its motto is 'Learn to Feed the Nation'. Still now few constrained hampered its excellence. Only 86.95 acre of land is too much little for any agricultural university.
Mahmud Abdullah is a student of SAU
