The Gazipur Agricultural University (GAKU) on Saturday organized an orientation programme for 546 newly admitted students of the Summer-2026 semester alongside the inauguration of a tree plantation campaign as part of the Prime Minister’s nationwide initiative to plant 250 million trees over five years.
Education Minister Dr. A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milon attended the programme as the chief guest, while GAKU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. GKM Mostafizur Rahman presided over the event. Gazipur-2 MP M. Manjurul Karim Rony, Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Md. Nurul Karim Bhuiyan, DUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Iqbal, GAKU Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Zahidur Rahman, Treasurer Professor Dr. Md. Safiul Islam Afrad, teachers, officials and students were also present.
The programme began with a colorful rally on the university campus. The Education Minister later inaugurated the tree plantation campaign by planting fruit-bearing and medicinal tree saplings. The orientation programme was subsequently held at Begum Sufia Kamal Auditorium.
Addressing the newly enrolled students, Education Minister Dr. A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milon urged them to contribute to global leadership through research, innovation and knowledge creation. He said the government is working to reverse brain drain by creating better opportunities for talented graduates at home.
“The government is committed to transforming the country’s universities into world-class institutions inspired by globally renowned universities such as Harvard, Cambridge and MIT,” the minister said.
In his presidential address, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. GKM Mostafizur Rahman highlighted the university’s recent international achievements. He said GAKU ranked first among all public universities in Bangladesh in the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Rankings 2026. The university also secured 82nd position globally in SDG-1, 66th in SDG-2 and a place in the 101–200 band for SDG-4. In the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) 2026, GAKU ranked 23rd worldwide in the “Technology Transfer for Economic Development” category, becoming the only public university in Bangladesh to be placed among the global top 100 in that category. In the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026, GAKU ranked first among the country’s agricultural universities and third among public universities.
The Vice-Chancellor also noted that the university has so far developed 97 high-yielding crop varieties and more than 20 agricultural technologies, making significant contributions to Bangladesh’s agricultural development.
During the programme, newly admitted students received guidance on academic regulations, discipline and campus life. The Education Minister also responded to questions from the students. The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Director of Student Affairs Professor Dr. Mohammad Sharif Raihan.