‘Bangabandhu Chair’ to be established at Delhi University

Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) will establish "Bangabandhu Chair" at the University of Delhi to honour Father of the Nation of Bangladesh and the 50th anniversary of the country's Liberation War and Indo-Bangla diplomatic relations.

ICCR Director General Shri Dinesh K Patnaik and University of Delhi Acting Vice Chancellor Prof PC Joshi will sign a memorandum of understanding on July 12 in this regard.

The MoU will be effective for five academic years, sources said.

The initiative is the outcome of an understanding reached during Indian Prime Minister's visit to Bangladesh in March this year, according to a statement of the ICCR, an autonomous body of Indian government involved in India's external cultural relations.

Bangabandhu Chair will focus on better understanding of developments in Bangladesh, which is considered one of India's most important neighbours positioned at the strategic intersection of its "Neighbourhood First" and "Act East" policies.

The step will reinforce exchanges in the field of academics, art and culture between the two countries that share historical and cultural bond.

A foreign visiting professor or subject expert on Bangladesh, preferably of Bangladesh origin, will occupy the Bangabandhu Chair that will focus on Indo-Bangladesh common cultural heritage and subjects like Anthropology, Buddhist Studies, Geography, History, Modern Indian Languages, Music and Fine Arts, Political Science International Relations and Sociology.

It will teach as per academic requirements of the university and help in guiding and mentoring research students and take part in activities of other universities.