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American-style private university planned

By Asiuzzaman
This will be a small American university In Bangladesh. Teachers will be appointed from abroad mainly from the United States and we will have collaboration with a number of American universities,' Chairman (vice-chancellor) of the country's first proposed private university said Thursday In an interview
Talking to The Dally Star in his New DOHS residence Muslehuddln Ahmad said that the university would begin admissions from January if Parliament approved the charter of the university In the upcoming budget session. The charter would be considered the ordinance of the university.
The university is named North South University (NSU) and primarily being housed tn a seven-storey building at Kamal Ataturk Avenue tn Banant. Ahmad, a former ambassador said adding that the campus would be shifted later to some convenient place.
The NSU would start with three subjects tn three faculties (schools) with 40 students tn each subject.
The subjects are economics, business administration and computer science and the faculties are the school of arts and social science, the business school and the school of applied science
"As we will follow th* American system the Honours course (majoring in a subject) wiH be for four years instead of country's three years and the Masters will be completed in two years Instead of one year," Ahmad said adding that "there will be two semesters — January to May and September to December."
Ahmad who was also a teacher of Dhaka University said that the NSU has already had contracts with the University of Illinois. University of Pennsylvania. George Washington University, and the University of Kansas of the United States and was going to sign agreements on mutual Interests and exchange programmes
The agreements will be like this; those American uni versity will supervise, monitor and recognise our degrees." the NSU Chairman said and added that "If a student com pletes one part of his syllabus tn the NSU. he will be accepted by those American universities If the situation arises
Replying to a question whether the university was only for the rich. Ahmad said "No. a number of poor but meritortus students will be given scholarships and interest-free loans subject to be paid after employment "
"Considering the standard of the university the tuition fees will naturally be higher than those in other universities of the country." he said without elaborating.
The NSU will be an inde pendent degree awarding university and not under any university of the country. It may be under the University Grants Commission (UOC) but the NSU management proposed to the government to set up an Independent accreditation council' to look after the private universities
Recalling the past Ahmad said that he first had the idea of a university of the type in late 1988 which he discussed with his friends and acquain-
tances
The first meeting was held on the matter January 19. 1989 which was attended by only eight eager sponsors from different circles
At the second meeting, a few days after the first, they formed the foundation for promotion of education and research and started negotiating with the government
On March 5. 1992 they formed the Board ol Governors with former President. Federation of Chambers and Commerce Iftekharul Alam as Chairman and Muslehuddln Ahmad as co-chairman The body now has 28 members and remains open to coopt more members
Besides the governing body, a 30-member executive committee headed by former chairman of NBR will run the university.
The cabinet approved set ting up of a private university in the country on March 25
The government asked the NSU authorities to show a fund of Taka one crore before starting the session and they are now collecting the money from the sponsors.
Alimad said that a university like the NSU would help stop the brain-drain from a "poor but prospective" country like Bangladesh.
About student politics, he said that the syllabus and university discipline would not permit the students time to do polities. He did not elaborate. Meanwhile, a reliable source said that atleast eight applies tions for setting up of private university were pending with the government for decision.