Department of Fisheries, University of Rajshahi : Facts and FAQs

A. Initiation
Importance of fisheries sector needs no introduction in Bangladesh. Considering its enormous potentials in northern Bangladesh, activities of the Department of Fisheries were initiated in the year 2000 under the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Rajshahi. The first batch of students was admitted in the session 2000-2001.

B. Courses offered
The Department offers different courses both at undergraduate level: B.Sc. Fisheries (Hons.) and postgraduate level: M.S. in Fisheries Biology and Genetics, M.S. in Aquaculture, M.Phil. and Ph.D.

C. Students
The number of current students is 183 (Honours-120, MS-47, M.Phil.-13 and Ph.D.-03) and the number of students already received their degrees is 180 (Honours-121, MS-55, Ph.D.-04)

D. Staff
The number of current staff of the Department is 38 (Academic staff-18 and Official staff-20).

E. Facilities
The Department is equipped with a small museum, laboratories, a hatchery complex and more than 20 research ponds. The class rooms are well facilitated by multimedia projectors. The seminar library is also equipped with different books, journals, reports and extension materials.

F. Field facilitation
For the development of practical knowledge of the students, field visits are successfully made giving emphasis on aquatic ecosystems, hatcheries, farms, processing plants, fish feed factories, research and educational institutes etc. An extension field trip is also conducted at Upazila level for the orientation with organizations and stake holders taking part in rural development and for the enhancement of the capacity on identification of research and extension needs in fisheries sector.

G. Research effort
Considering the variations in agro-ecosystems, different research efforts are made by this Department with emphasis on improving the soil-water quality, developing appropriate aquaculture technologies, introducing high value aquaculture species (freshwater prawn, tilapia, native catfishes etc.), targeting suitable approach for the disadvantaged people like indigenous group and critical zone like Barind area. The Department is capable well to conduct researches on biology, processing, marketing, transportation and diseases of fishes and prawns. Special efforts are also taken on ornamental and small indigenous species of fishes. Moreover, studies on livelihood and climate change aspects are also found as the major thrust for the past few years.

H. Communication and collaboration
Significant effort is taken for the development of extension materials and publication of scientific articles. Information on different activities of this Department is available on the official website (www.ru.ac.bd/fish). With the support from GOs and NGOs, information is also shared by organizing and participating different seminars, conferences, workshops, briefing sessions and some other events with national and international importances. The role of the Rajshahi University Fisheries Association is found very much supportive in this regard. Professional affiliations are also successfully made with NESA (National Environmental Science Academy, India), ZSB (Zoological Society of Bangladesh), BFRF (Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum) etc.
The Department is very active while establishing GO-NGO-Donor-Association-Private Sector linkages. A total of 8 projects are already implemented with the support of the Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology, University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, WorldFish Center, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum (BFRF), Barind Campaign Group (BCG), Inter Cooperation (IC) etc. for research, extension and development activities.

I. Future plan
Emphasis will be given for the development of existing museum, fish farm and laboratories, publication of a scientific journal, increase in the number of streams at MS level, studies on climate change aspects and enhancement of communication and collaboration for research and development to the institutions of home and abroad.

J. FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

• Q. Who is the founder of the Faculty of Fisheries in Bangladesh?
  A. National Professor- Professor Dr. A. K. M. Aminul Haque
• Q. Who has significant contributions for the development of fisheries related organizations in Bangladesh?
  A. Professor Dr. Md. Aminul Islam (Retd.), Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University.
• Q. Who acted as Vice Chancellor during the establishment of the Department of Fisheries under the University of Rajshahi?
  A. Professor Dr. M. Saidur Rahman Khan (Now acting as Ambassador of Bangladesh in UK).
• Q. Who are the VCs of Rajshahi University for the past 10 years (i.e. from the period of establishment of the Department of Fisheries to date)?
  A. Professor Dr. M. Saidur Rahman Khan, Professor Dr. Faisul Islam Farouqui, Professor Dr. M. Altaf Hossain, Professor Dr. Mamnunul Keramat and Professor Dr. M. Abdus Sobhan.
• Q. Who is the founder Chairman of the Department of Fisheries under the University of Rajshahi?
  A. Professor Dr. Selina Parween, Department of Zoology, University of Rajshahi.
• Q. Who played the main role for the change in name of the Department from “Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture” to “Department of Fisheries”?
  A. Professor Dr. N. I. M. Abdus Salam Bhuiyan, Department of Zoology, University of Rajshahi (Ex-Chairman, Department of Fisheries and Ex-Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rajshahi).
• Q. Who played the key role for the change in name of the degree from “B. Sc. Ag (Honours)” to “B. Sc. Fisheries (Honours)” in the Department of Fisheries, University of Rajshahi?
  A. Professor Dr. N. I. M. Abdus Salam Bhuiyan, Department of Zoology, University of Rajshahi (Ex-Chairman, Department of Fisheries and Ex-Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rajshahi).
• Q. Which fisheries scholars became the VCs of different universities of Bangladesh?
  A. Professor Dr. A. K. M. Aminul Haque, Professor Dr. M. Asadur Rahman, Professor Dr. M. Anwarul Islam, Professor Dr. Md. Yousuf Sharif Ahmed Khan, Professor Dr. M. Altaf Hossain and Professor Dr. M. Saifuddin Shah.
• Q. Who contributed well for the development of course curriculum of the Department of Fisheries, University of Rajshahi for the past ten years?
  A. Professor Dr. Selina Parween (RU), Professor Dr. M. Altaf Hossain (RU), Professor Dr. N. I. M. Abdus Salam Bhuiyan (RU), Professor M. Sohrab Ali (RU), Professor Dr. M. Mohsin Ali (BAU), Professor Dr. Ali Azadi (CU), Professor Dr. Khandaker Anisul Haque (KU), Professor Dr. M. Saifuddin Shah (KU), Professor Dr. A. K. M. Md. Abdul Matin (CU), Professor Dr. M. Aminul Islam (BAU), Professor Dr. M. Niamul Naser (DU), Professor Dr. Nani Gopal Das (CU), Professor Dr. A. K. M. Nowsad Alam (BAU), Professor Dr. Somen Dewan (BAU), Professor Dr. Md. Samsul Alam (BAU) and academic staff of this Department.
• Q. Who are playing the vital role for the development of forum based fisheries research in Bangladesh?
  A. Professor Dr. M. Saifuddin Shah, Vice Chancellor, Khulna University and President, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum (BFRF) and Professor Dr. M. A. Wahab, Dean, Faculty of Fisheries, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh who took initiative as founder President of BFRF.
• Q. What is the status of the students already obtained their degrees from this Department?
  A. A total of 55 students obtained their MS degrees from this Department. Among them 70% are involved in different jobs (GOs, NGOs, private sectors, banks, schools, colleges and universities), 6% are involved in higher education (home and abroad) and 24% are involved in searching for suitable jobs.
• Q. How can you evaluate your Department in teaching, research and development?
  A. If we demonstrate our attitudes towards learning new things, respecting science and scientists, making efforts for research, extension and development and appreciating others’ contributions then we are also evaluated as well. We can say that at present our Department of Fisheries is a category one department of the University of Rajshahi.

N.B. This feature was published on the Souvenir of ten years celebration of the Department of Fisheries, Univeristy of Rajshahi.

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