A Tk 2 crore trust fund has been established at the University of Dhaka to provide scholarships to students of the university, with Elite Group of Industries contributing the full amount.
As part of the initiative, the company handed over a cheque for Tk 1 crore to the university authorities on Wednesday, September 2. The remaining Tk 1 crore will be handed over in six months.
The new fund, titled “Elite Group Serajuddin and Rabeya Seraj Trust Fund,” was announced at a cheque handover ceremony held at a meeting room adjacent to the Vice-Chancellor’s office.
University of Dhaka Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A B M Obaidul Islam attended the event as the chief guest, while Treasurer Professor Dr. M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury chaired the programme.
Acting Registrar Munsi Shams Uddin Ahmed, Elite Group of Industries Deputy Managing Director Sahedur Siraj, Directors Shadan Siraj, Md. Mamun-ur-Rashid and Surma Chowdhury, among others, were present at the event.
Under the trust fund, one-time scholarships will be awarded annually to students studying in departments under the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at the University of Dhaka. The scholarship programme is scheduled to begin from the 2026–27 academic year.
As part of efforts to strengthen industry-academia collaboration, Elite Group also announced internship opportunities for University of Dhaka students at various establishments of the group.
In his speech, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A B M Obaidul Islam thanked Elite Group for the initiative, describing the support for university students as highly commendable. He particularly highlighted the importance of providing financial assistance to students, especially those in their first year.
Emphasising the importance of industry-academia cooperation, the Vice-Chancellor said internship opportunities at Elite Group's various establishments would allow University of Dhaka students to apply their academic knowledge in real-world workplaces and better prepare themselves for their future careers.
He further said the university has undertaken fundraising initiatives as part of its long-term plans to advance the institution. Support from the private sector is crucial for improving the quality of education and research, he added.
Professor Obaidul Islam expressed hope that more organisations like Elite Group would come forward to support the university, which would benefit students, teachers and researchers and further enrich the university's academic and research activities.
He also urged Elite Group to continue supporting the University of Dhaka in the future.
