IUB celebrates 10 years of Saima Hall

Campus Desk :

Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) has marked the 10th anniversary of Saima Hall, a residential facility established a decade ago to provide free accommodation, meals, and quality higher education to underprivileged female students from remote regions of the country.

Among private universities in Bangladesh, Saima Hall remains the first residential hostel offering such fully funded support exclusively for disadvantaged women students.

A special event was held on Saturday (29 November 2025) at IUB’s Bashundhara campus to celebrate the milestone.

Students currently residing at Saima Hall – enrolled across various departments at IUB – performed music and dance at the celebration.

Saima Hall began its journey in 2015 with eight students, occupying the top five floors of a nine-storey building owned by the family of A Matin Chowdhury, Member of the IUB Board of Trustees.

The building is located in J Block, Baridhara, Dhaka. Over the past 10 years, the number of residential students has increased to 50.

The hall is funded by the Shaheed Khalek and Major Salek Bir Uttam Trust, established by the family of A Matin Chowdhury.

IUB Trustee Salma Karim oversees all hall operations, supported by a committee comprising IUB officials working under her guidance.

Speakers at the anniversary event included Trustee A Matin Chowdhury, Trustee Salma Karim, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Didar A. Husain, Trustee Towhid Samad, Trustee Wazed Ali Khan Panni, Trustee Rashed Chowdhury, Vice Chancellor Prof. M. Tamim, and Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Daniel W. Lund. Trustee Mohammad Tanvir Madar and Trustee Dr. Husne Ara Ali were also present.

During the programme, it was informed that Saima Hall students study at IUB with a 100% scholarship.

Their accommodation, meals, and furniture expenses are covered by the Trust, while IUB bears all utility and maintenance costs, including electricity, water, gas, internet, and upkeep.

Over the past decade, nearly 70 female students have completed their education at IUB while residing in Saima Hall.

All of them come from disadvantaged families in remote and economically marginalised regions of Bangladesh.

Many alumni are now employed at leading institutions in the banking, information technology, and other sectors, both in Bangladesh and abroad.

Several have also pursued higher studies in countries including the United States, Canada, Italy, Germany, Japan, and Malaysia.