HSTU to Undergo Major Upgrade with Tk 577 Crore Development Project

The government has approved a Tk 576.96 crore development project for Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) in Dinajpur, aiming to modernize infrastructure, expand research capacity, and elevate academic facilities to international standards.

Titled “Development of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University,” the project will be implemented by the Secondary and Higher Education Division, with the University Grants Commission (UGC) and HSTU serving as joint executing agencies. Fully funded by the government, it will run from January 2026 to December 2028 in Dinajpur Sadar Upazila, Rangpur Division.

Key components include construction of:

• A 12-storey male students’ dormitory
• A 12-storey female students’ dormitory
• A 12-storey academic building

The project also covers procurement of advanced laboratory instruments, research equipment, and ICT tools to support digital learning, scientific research, and administrative efficiency.

Officials emphasized that universities in developing nations like Bangladesh must produce skilled human resources and drive science and technology advancement amid global economic shifts.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon recently urged the UGC to develop internationally competitive universities, highlighting that quality higher education and research are essential for building a knowledge-based nation.

A senior Planning Ministry official said successful implementation would create modern infrastructure, improve education quality, develop human resources, and strengthen research capabilities at HSTU.

Expanded residential facilities will address accommodation shortages, while upgraded academic buildings and labs will foster a better teaching-learning environment. Enhanced lab and ICT resources will boost advanced research and innovation, particularly in science and technology fields.

Experts believe such large-scale investments in public universities outside Dhaka are vital to reduce regional disparities, attract talented students and faculty, and position HSTU as a leading research-oriented institution contributing to national socio-economic development.

Located 13 km north of Dinajpur town along the Dhaka-Dinajpur highway, HSTU is the first science and technology university in northern Bangladesh. It began as the Agricultural Extension Training Institute (AETI) offering a three-year diploma in agriculture. In 1988, it was upgraded to Hajee Mohammad Danesh Agricultural College under Bangladesh Agricultural University affiliation.

It achieved university status in the 1999–2000 session. The HSTU Act was passed in Parliament on 8 July 2001, followed by gazette notification on 8 April 2002.

With the new project, HSTU is poised to significantly expand its academic reach and strengthen its role in producing skilled graduates and advancing science and technology education nationwide.