Twelve educational institutes of the armed forces across the country will be incorporated into this proposed university named Bangladesh University of Professional (BUP).

The Dhaka Cantonment campus will primarily offer degrees only in Science and Technology Management Study.

Education ministry sources said a committee comprising representatives of the three forces, University Grants Commission (UGC) and the ministries of defence, finance, establishment, law and education has been formed to prepare a proposal for the university.

The committee led by Maj Gen Abdul Wadud has already finalised the draft proposal for the university and named it Bangladesh University of Professional, said UGC Secretary and committee member Mohammed Mufakker.

UGC Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam told The Daily Star, "This proposed university fulfils all the requirements for setting up a public university. The education ministry will approve it within a few months. It will be a university with many branches. All educational institutes run by the armed forces will be incorporated into this university."

Bangladesh Army runs different educational institutes, including the Staff College, National Defence College, and Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST). Most of these institutes impart graduate and post graduate degrees mainly under Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), National University, Dhaka University and Chittagong University.

The committee visited the MIST campus in Dhaka Cantonment and primarily decided to set up the main campus of the university there as the MIST already has sufficient structural facilities, UGC sources said.

"The MIST offers different courses in science, civil engineering, electrical engineering and MBA. In addition to these, new courses will be launched at the BUP," a committee member said.

He also said the top posts including that of vice chancellor will be filled with armed forces personnel.

Around 40 percent seats at the university will be reserved for armed forces personnel as well as their family members while the rest will be open for all.

The education ministry will permit setting up of the university after the UGC approves the draft proposal submitted by the committee.

The Board of Armed Forces appealed to the education ministry and the UGC seeking permission to set up a public university.