NN Online:
A high-powered Turkish delegation has recently visited Bangladesh to explore collaborative opportunities in higher education and knowledge-based development. The visit, centered around the University of Integrated Thoughts (UIT) project, included an on-site inspection of UIT’s proposed permanent campus in Rohila Mouza, Rupganj, and strategic consultations with Bangladeshi academics and institutions.
The delegation, led by Mr. EyĂ¼p Akbal, Secretary General of the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World (UNIW) and prominent Turkish industrialist, toured the proposed campus site and was briefed on UIT’s master plan, construction progress, and long-term academic vision. Located along the 300-feet highway near Kanchan Bridge in Narayanganj, the site spans the banks of the Shitalakshya River and is approximately 21 kilometers from Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport.
During the campus visit, Mr. Akbal and his team expressed appreciation for the project’s goal of establishing a value-driven, knowledge-based university. They recognized UIT as a visionary initiative to bridge traditional Islamic values with modern interdisciplinary education. The delegation showed strong interest in forging long-term academic and strategic partnerships with UIT.
A high-level consultation session followed at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka. Jointly hosted by the BIIT Trust and the UIT Foundation, the event focused on transforming UIT into a globally competitive institution rooted in Islamic intellectual heritage and committed to excellence in research, moral education, and ethical leadership.
Notable attendees included Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan, Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka; Professor Dr. Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT); and other distinguished vice-chancellors and academics from universities across Bangladesh. The consultation emphasized the need for collaborative models that integrate tradition with innovation, and the role UIT could play in addressing intellectual challenges facing the Muslim world.
The Turkish delegation included Mr. Ubayde Canakci, UNIW’s Middle East Desk Coordinator; Mr. Hidayet Oguzhan, President of the East Turkistan NGO Union; Mr. Mohammad Ali Armagan, TIKA’s Bangladesh Coordinator; and Mr. Ă–zgĂ¼r Ă–zĂ¼rek, Religious Affairs Coordinator at the Turkish Embassy in Dhaka.
As part of their visit, the delegation also toured the headquarters of the Bangladesh Institute of Islamic Thought (BIIT). Mr. Akbal was warmly received by Dr. Mumtahena, BIIT Academic Fellow, and Professor Dr. M Abdul Aziz, Director General of BIIT, who provided a detailed overview of the institute’s academic, research, and publication initiatives.
During the visit, Mr. Akbal explored BIIT’s research center, library, translation unit, and other academic departments. He was presented with a collection of BIIT’s key publications and praised the institute’s intellectual contributions to value-based education. The visit, he said, marks a new chapter in Bangladesh-Turkey cooperation in higher education and research.
Also present at the BIIT event were Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Editor of Daily Sabah and International Coordinator of BIIT, and S M Rasheduzzaman, Chairman of SOWAB. The visit was hailed as a milestone in academic diplomacy, paving the way for joint ventures, faculty exchanges, and shared initiatives that align Islamic heritage with global educational standards.
The visit concluded with a shared commitment to advancing ethical, integrated, and globally relevant education that serves not only Bangladesh and Turkey, but the broader Muslim world.
