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History of the Department

1960s
Two-year Masters Programme in Sociology was first introduced in University of Rajshahi in the Department of Political Science and Sociology in 1964. Under the headship of renowned writer Badruddin Umar (from 25 September 1963 to 26 December 1968) and Professor Talukdar Moniruzzaman (from 27 December 1968 to 6 October 1969), a number of teachers trained in Sociology were recruited in the following years. Late Qazi Hasibul Hossain, a Master of Anthropology from Calcutta University, first joined as a teacher of sociology. Khaled Hassan, Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury, Ahbab Ahmed and Abdul Quadir Bhuiyan subsequently joined the Department immediately after having their Masters degree from Dhaka University. In 1969 the Sociology Programme was separated from the Department of Political Science and merged with the College of Social Work during the headship of renowned scholar Abdul Majid Khan. The College of Sociology and Social Work remained only for a year during 1969-1970. After the joining of Fazlur Rashid Khan, a faculty of the Department of Sociology, Dhaka University, in November 1969 as a Reader and Head, the independent Department of Sociology came into being with Masters Programme and three year B A Honours programme from the session 1970-1971. Fazlur Rashid Khan became the first Head of the Department.

1970s
F R Khan led the Department as Chairman as per the Rajshahi University Act 1973. The 1970s was the formative period for the Department when a good number of teachers joined and went abroad for higher studies. The new recruits were Jharna Nath, M Hafizullah, Anwarul Islam, Mokerram Hossain, Syeda Roushan Quadir, Shamsul Alam, Muhammad Shahidullah, AHM Zehadul Karim, Dewan Shamsul Arefin, Kazi Tobarak Hossain, Abdul Rahman Siddiquee, Nilufar Sultana, Muhammad Mizanuddin, Syed Zahir Sadeque, M Faizar Rahman, S M Zillur Rahaman. When Fazlur Rashid Khan went for Ph D programme in 1974, Qazi Hasibul Hossain became the Chairman. It was unfortunate that Qazi Hasibul Hossain died in his office room on 14 February 1977. He contributed a lot to develop the Department and the discipline. Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury then became the Chairman and continued until his departure for Ph D programme in 1977. Meanwhile Fazlur Rashid Khan came back after completion of his Ph D and became Chairman again. A number of teachers went abroad in 1970s for higher education and some of them did not come back. Abdul Quadir Bhuiyan returned after his Ph D 1979. Shamsul Alam faced a premature death immediately after his departure for Ph D programme at Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1978.

1980s
Kazi Aziz Ahmed, Kamal Ahmed Chowdhury and Muhammad Hasan Imam joined as lecturer in 1982. Next year A H M Mustafizur Rahman and Zebun Nahar Ahmed joined the Department. Others recruited in 1980s were Monirul Islam Khan, Sultana Mustafa Khanum and Badrul Alam Khan.

1990s
Shawkat Sharif, A K M Shafiul Islam, Anwar Hossain, Wardatul Akmam, Runa Laila, Siddiqur Rahman, Shah Ehsan Habib, and Shahadat Hossain, Bijoy Krishna Banik and Zulfiquar Ali Islam joined during this period. Bazlul Mobin Chowdury, a senior faculty member, left the Department and joined Shahjalal Science and Technology University in 1991. Shwkat Sharif went for higher study.

2000s
S M Kais, Mahbuba Sarkar, S M Imtiaz, Munshi Israil Hossain and Shahidul Islam joined in this period. Meanwhile, Shah Ehsan Habib left the Department and joined University of Dhaka in 2006.