Proposal to Turn Dattnagar Farm University

A proposal has been raised to transform the Dattnagar Agricultural Farm in Maheshpur, Jhenaidah, into an international-standard agricultural education and research university. The initiative could connect the nearly 2,737-acre agricultural area with higher education, research, technology innovation and employment opportunities. Proposals for modern cold-storage facilities and an international fisheries research centre at Boluhar were also discussed.

Attorney General Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal separately met Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid and Agriculture Secretary Md Selim Khan on Thursday and presented the proposals. Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu MP, along with former student leaders from Maheshpur and Kotchandpur, was present during the meeting with the agriculture minister.

During his meeting with the agriculture minister, the attorney general said he had consulted local residents of Maheshpur and Kotchandpur about regional development ahead of the national parliamentary election. He said one of their major demands was to transform Dattnagar Agricultural Farm into an international-standard agricultural and research university.

According to Kajal, establishing such an institution could create new opportunities for agriculture-based development in Bangladesh. It could also expand higher education and employment opportunities for young people while contributing to agricultural and economic development in the region.

The idea of turning Dattnagar Farm into a research-oriented institution had also appeared in Kajal’s earlier regional development plans. In statements made in 2025, he spoke about giving special status to Dattnagar Agricultural Farm and the Boluhar fisheries project and developing them as research institutions.

The agriculture minister listened to the proposal and highlighted its alignment with the government’s development priorities, particularly its focus on agriculture. Kajal invited the minister to visit Dattnagar Agricultural Farm and the wider agricultural areas of Maheshpur and Kotchandpur. The minister assured him that he would visit the area at a convenient time.

The discussion also highlighted the region’s agricultural potential. Kajal said the soil of Maheshpur and Kotchandpur is highly fertile. In addition to rice, vegetables and mangoes, farmers are producing grapes, dragon fruit, guava, bananas and other crops and fruits.

However, he said the region lacks sufficient cold-storage capacity and modern preservation facilities for agricultural products, particularly fruits. He requested the establishment of modern storage and cold-storage facilities in the area.

The agriculture minister assured him that the matter would be reviewed and that necessary measures would be considered in coordination with other regions of the country.

Later, the attorney general met Agriculture Secretary Md Selim Khan and presented the proposal to develop Dattnagar Agricultural Farm into an international-standard agricultural university and research institution. The agriculture secretary expressed a positive attitude toward the proposal and assured that the government was committed to the initiative and that he would provide all possible cooperation.

During both meetings, Kajal also proposed transforming the Boluhar Fisheries Breeding and Research Centre in Kotchandpur into an international-standard research centre. He was assured that recommendations on the matter would be sent to the relevant ministries and departments.

In July 2026, Kajal had described transforming Dattnagar Agricultural Farm into a full-fledged agricultural university as one of his major priorities. He had also outlined a plan to develop Boluhar into an international fisheries breeding and research centre.

If implemented, a research-focused institution at Dattnagar could create opportunities for work on agricultural technology, improved seeds, crop production, soil and water management, post-harvest preservation and agricultural markets. It could also provide an institutional platform for knowledge and technology exchange among farmers, students, researchers and entrepreneurs.

However, the proposal remains at the discussion and initiative stage and should not be presented as an approved government decision to establish a university. The discussions between the attorney general and relevant ministers and officials provide a potential basis for further consideration of the long-standing local demand and the region’s agricultural and fisheries research potential.

//DBTech/IIMF/SME/MIST//