In the late 1980s, higher education was largely confined to a handful of public universities. Seats were scarce, session jams were common, and many capable young people went abroad or gave up on a degree. Dr Miyan saw this as a brake on national development.

Planning for IUBAT began in 1989, and the university was formally established in 1991. From the outset, it was built to international standards through cooperative agreements with Kansas State University in the United States, and with Assumption University and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand. These partnerships shaped its academic model, curriculum and quality assurance, giving IUBAT a global outlook from its first semester.

It was a bold bet on an untested idea, and it paid off. The model IUBAT pioneered, combining international partnerships with a strong sense of national purpose, would soon be followed by private universities across the country, changing the landscape of higher education in Bangladesh for good.

One graduate from every village

IUBAT’s vision fits in a single sentence: “To produce at least one professional graduate from each village, ward, and moholla of Bangladesh to contribute towards the creation of a knowledge-based society.” It treats education as a right that should reach the remotest char and the poorest neighbourhood.

The university’s mission follows from that vision: human resource development through teaching, training, guidance and research that advances the socio-agro-economic life of Bangladesh and other developing nations. Every programme, scholarship and partnership is measured against that purpose.

That vision is backed by one of the most comprehensive scholarship programmes among private universities in Bangladesh. Awards are based on SSC and HSC results, with tuition waivers of up to 100% for top performers.

Every female student receives a 15% tuition waiver, and grants, campus jobs, student loans and deferred payment options support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. For IUBAT, merit, not money, decides who gets a degree.

The result is a campus where a farmer’s son and a banker’s daughter sit in the same classroom, judged by the same standard. For IUBAT, inclusion is not a slogan added later; it is the reason the university exists, and it shapes every decision about fees, admissions and student support.

An environment designed for learning

The university’s motto, “An Environment Designed for Learning,” comes alive on its permanent, river-view campus spread across seven acres of greenery in Uttara, Dhaka. Spacious classrooms, a modern library and well-equipped laboratories anchor academic life, while an open study arena, a Shaheed Minar, cultural corners, sports fields and fitness zones support students’ all-round growth. Free Wi-Fi covers the campus.

The green design of the campus is no accident. Renewable energy initiatives, waste management and careful landscaping make IUBAT a working model of sustainable campus management, which explains why it now sits at the top of the national UI GreenMetric table.

Support begins before students reach campus. IUBAT runs free transport on routes across Dhaka, Gazipur, Narsingdi and Narayanganj, a rare service among private universities. On campus, medical support, a cafeteria and security services help students feel safe and focused.

For a student commuting daily from the outskirts of the capital, free buses can mean the difference between attending classes and dropping out. Such practical support is part of what turns IUBAT’s commitment to access into a reality for thousands of families.

From classroom to career

IUBAT’s Alumni and Placement Office offers career counselling, soft-skills training and job placement help. Its annual National Career Festival brings more than 100 organisations from banking, telecommunications, IT, FMCG, manufacturing and the NGO sector to campus, where many students secure job offers. IUBAT graduates now hold key positions in Bangladesh and abroad, from the United Kingdom and Canada to the Middle East and Europe, at organisations such as Intel, NASA and the United Nations.

Employers often say IUBAT graduates arrive ready to work. That reputation comes from curricula that blend theory with hands-on practice, internships that connect students with industry, and a culture that values discipline, teamwork and communication as much as grades.

Academic strength, globally recognised

IUBAT offers undergraduate and graduate programmes in Business, Engineering, Agriculture, Nursing, Tourism and Hospitality, and the Social Sciences. Four of its engineering programmes are accredited by BAETE–IEB under the Washington Accord, and the IUBAT Business School holds ACBSP accreditation from the USA.

The Miyan Research Institute, named in honour of the founder, is the hub of research on campus. Faculty and students work on national challenges, from agricultural productivity and public health to technology and social development, and the growing volume of peer-reviewed publications reflects IUBAT’s transition into a research-oriented university.

Research is a growing strength. In the Scopus Index 2024, IUBAT ranked fourth among private universities in Bangladesh for research output, and 12 of its researchers were named in the 2026 Stanford University–Elsevier list of the world’s top 2% scientists. Its recent rankings include:

• THE World University Rankings 2027: joint 2nd in Bangladesh, in the #1001–1200 global band
• UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2026: #1 in Bangladesh, #113 in Asia, #197 in the world
• QS Asia University Rankings 2026: #644 in Asia, #186 in Southern Asia
• THE Impact Rankings 2025: #801–1000 globally
• WURI: #39 in the world for Ethical Universities

IUBAT also features in the Scimago Institutions Rankings.

International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) building. Photo: Courtesy

A campus that welcomes the world

Today, 165 international students from 20 countries study at IUBAT, supported by a dedicated International Office. They learn alongside Bangladeshi classmates in modern laboratories, turn ideas into prototypes at the university’s innovation hub, and join faculty-led projects at the Miyan Research Institute. Partnerships with universities in Malaysia, Canada and the United States are steadily building IUBAT into a regional hub for quality higher education.

The benefits flow both ways. International students gain a respected degree in a welcoming environment, while Bangladeshi students develop a global outlook without leaving home. Cultural evenings, joint projects and everyday friendships across borders prepare all of them for careers in an interconnected world.

In the Vice-Chancellor’s words

Speaking about the university’s journey, IUBAT Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Abdur Rab said, “Being the first private university in Bangladesh is a responsibility, not just an honour. Our founder, Professor Dr M Alimullah Miyan, dreamed of a graduate from every village, and that dream is still our compass. Through generous scholarships, we make sure merit, not money, decides who gets a degree. Today we have 165 international students from 20 countries, a growing research culture led by the Miyan Research Institute, and rankings that show we are on the right path. Our promise is to produce graduates who are skilled, ethical and ready to serve society.”

Photo of Prof Dr Md Anwarul Kabir, Principal Adviser to the Board of Trustees, Presidency University. Photo: Courtesy

A legacy that keeps working

Professor Dr M Alimullah Miyan’s legacy is more than a set of buildings. It is a living philosophy: that developing people is the surest way to develop a nation. That belief runs through every part of IUBAT, from its scholarships to its curriculum, which pairs professional skill with moral and civic responsibility.

Under the guidance of the IUBAT Board of Trustees, the university continues to build on Dr Miyan’s dream. From a modest start in 1991, it has grown to more than 10,000 students, hundreds of faculty members and thousands of alumni shaping communities around the world.

The university continues to expand its academic programmes, strengthen research capacity and widen access, so that more young people from every corner of the country can share in the opportunities that higher education brings.

As Bangladesh moves towards a knowledge-driven economy, the founder’s goal of a skilled graduate from every village remains unfinished, and that is its power. For countless young people, IUBAT has been a turning point. Thirty-five years after one educator opened the first door, the university is still holding it open for the next generation.

For every student who walks through its gates with a dream and little else, IUBAT remains what its founder intended: a gateway to a brighter future, and a beacon of hope for a nation building its tomorrow through knowledge.