Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) () is a public agricultural university in Bangladesh, established in 1998. It was the first Graduate Agricultural Institute in Bangladesh emphasizing research and extension. It is located at South Salna, in Gazipur District. It is from Gazipur Chowrasta, just east of the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway.
As of Times Higher Education World University Ranking of 2025, Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) stood first in all categories among all universities of Bangladesh.
Moreover, according to the "Scimago Institute Rankings, 2021" report, Gazipur Agricultural University was ranked first in these three indices of research, innovation and social position among the public and private universities of Bangladesh considering international standards.
Gazipur Agricultural University was established on 22 November 1998. The university was named after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University. Previously, it was established as Institute of Post Graduate Studies in Agriculture (IPSA). Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) contributed to establish IPSA through its Grant Aid and Technical Cooperation projects since 1978 as a "Center of Excellence" for agricultural education and research in Bangladesh. 1983, IPSA was originally established as the Bangladesh College of Agricultural Sciences (BCAS). It was an academic part of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and associated academically with Bangladesh Agricultural University. IPSA was transformed in an autonomous institution by the government of Bangladesh and started course credit based MS and Ph.D. programs in 1991. The graduate program of IPSA was developed by the teachers of IPSA led by L. M. Eisgruver of Oregon State University (OSU).
In 1998, IPSA transformed into GAU (formerly BSMRAU). As a public university, it continued the post-graduate program and launched an undergraduate program. In 2005, GAU (formerly BSMRAU) started to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture [BS (Agriculture)].
In 2008, GAU (formerly BSMRAU) established its Faculty of Fisheries and started to offer a BS degree in Fisheries. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences was established in 2009 and started to offer the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. After 3 years, in 2012, GAU (formerly BSMRAU) established the Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development and started offering a BS in Agricultural Economics. Now, GAU has five faculties. and one Institute Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (IBGE), while a Faculty of Forest and Environment is under the process of establishment. Another two institutes namely, Institute of Climate Change (ICC) and Institute of Food Safety and Processing (IFSP) are under the process of operation.
After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League administration, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU) was renamed to Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU).
7. GKM Mustafizur Rahman (27 October 2024 â present)<br />
6. Md. Giashuddin Miah (11 June 2017 - 19 August 2024)<br />
5. Md. Mahbubar Rahman (20 March 2013 - 19 March 2017)<br />
4. Md. Abdul Mannan Akanda (11 March 2009 - 20 March 2013)<br />
3. Lutfor Rahman Khan (9 January 2006 - 10 March 2009)<br />
2. Abdul Halim Khan (12 December 2001 - 11 December 2005)<br />
1. Ashraful Kamal (26 April 1999 - 11 December 2001)<br />
GAU is situated in Salna of Gazipur city corporation on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, from Gazipur district headquarters, from Joydebpur Chourasta, from Security Printing Press and Ordinance Factory, and away from Dhaka city. The campus covers an area of land including about of well-developed experimental farm area. Located in a rural setting in between Joydebpur Chawrasta and Bhawal National Park, surrounded by the Sal forest of the Madhupur Tract and characterized by the topographical diversity with undulated land.
The university has a regular bus service from campus to Dhaka (Farmgate) twice a day including Friday also. And campus to Joydepur in nears to 2 hours interval. According to GAU, it offers a unique, calm and quiet campus; most suitable for academic pursuit.
English is the medium of instruction at GAU. The study at GAU comprises Term based Course Credit System, which the students can understand going through the following points thoroughly:
The university has been conducting researches from its inception shouldering active roles in the national and international agricultural research arena. Teaching excellence and effective research are conclusively interrelated in academics and that of innovation in programs. Classrooms teaching are continually powered and enriched by those faculty members who are actively engaged in research. Faculty members of this university have many long and short-term research projects and these projects are prepared as per national agricultural research needs and implemented. Some of the faculty members also prepare and implement research projects in collaboration with national and international research scientists. In many cases, the postgraduate student research is linked with the research projects of the faculty members. The functions of the research management wing are to integrate the research programs undertaken by different academic departments, allocate budget, publish research abstracts, journals annual report, invite Research Management Committee (RMC) funded research project proposals, and evaluate, implement and monitor these projects.
Some of the Research Journals Publishes by the university is given below:
Besides the university publishes An Informative Magazine about its various activities called "GAU Barta".
GAU has developed 44 improved varieties of vegetables, cereals, pulses, fruits and flowers which are commercially cultivated by farmers throughout Bangladesh due to their high yield and nutritional potentials.
In the SCImago Institutions Rankings for 2024, GAU Ranks 4477th in the world and 25th of 41 in Bangladesh.
The library of GAU is named as Yoshio Yamada Library. It has a separate two-storied building having 14,418 squire feet spaces. It was primarily established for postgraduate programs. However, with the inception of undergraduate programs, efforts are underway to equip the library with all necessary reference text books with multiple copies for all courses of undergraduate programs. It has a collection of around 21,800 books and more than 65,000 e-journals. The library is also regularly supplied with the journals, periodicals, bulletins, daily newspaper, magazines etc. The library is air conditioned with adequate sitting and reading facilities and an Audio-visual Room.
Gazipur Agricultural University has more than a dozen student clubs, covering a wide range of interests such as arts and culture, science, and service.
A new system of Cluster examination was introduced from the year 2019-2020 for seven public universities of Bangladesh which provide Education in Agricultural science. These are Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Sylhet Agricultural University, Khulna Agricultural University and Patuakhali Science and Technology University. The cluster system reduced students hardships and financial costs. The admission test is held on each campus but at a time with the same question.
The Faculty of Graduate studies offers MS and PhD degree in specialized disciplines of Agriculture. The Dean, faculty of Graduate Studies as academic executive of the faculty co-ordinates the academic activities of the university at graduate level. The faculty of graduate studies includes of 22 (twenty Two) academic departments, 1 (one) academic unit, 1 (one) institute and 2 (two) supporting departments. Each academic department/unit/institute has a Board of Studies (BOS) chaired by the head of the respective department/unit/institute. The Dean is assisted by and Additional Registrar for academic matters and Deputy Controller of Examinations for examination issues.