It may sound strange that a weaving college established in the beginning of the last century can be transformed into a centre of excellence for education on modern textile technology, but it is a reality for the Zorarganj Textile Engineering Institute in the district.
Undergoing gradual upgradations over the past, the centenarian institution has now become one of the country’s leading institutes for the education on textile technology.
Set up as a weaving school at Zorarganj in Mirsarai upazila in 1911, the institution was shifted to Dewanpur beside Dhaka-Chittagong highway in 1960.
Revoking artisan course, a two-year certificate in textile course was introduced at the institution in 1980. Later, it was transformed into a district textile institute.
Considering the huge demands of textile technologists for the country’s textile industry, the two-year textile course of the district textile institute was upgraded respectively to three-year Diploma in Textile Engineering in 1994 and four-year Diploma course in 2001.
In 2006, the institution was upgraded to Degree College and the Department of Textiles under the Jute and Textile Ministry adopted a Tk 61 crore project titled “Upgradation of Zorarganj Textile Institute to Zorarganj Textile Engineering College”.
M Aminul Islam, the chief inspector of the institute, said its syllabuses have been formulated in light of curricula of world renowned textiles institutes.
Teachers of the institute received trainings on different courses from renowned institutes in countries like Japan and the USA, he said, adding that the profile of the institute is improving in keeping up with the developed world.
Currently, four courses — Yarn Manufacturing, Fabric Manufacturing, Weight Processing and Apparel Manufacturing — are being taught under the honours education programme of the institute.
The courses are being in affiliation with Bangladesh Textile University that ensures the quality of education, Aminul Islam pointed out.
He also mentioned that there are separate laboratories enriched with modern equipment for each subjects.
However, he said, the institute has not yet been able to avail necessary facilities of information technology due to its remoteness from the Chittagong City.
Asked about the accommodation, Aminul Islam said there is accommodation arrangement for 90 students and guest teachers on the campus and added that a building is being built there to accommodate 100 more students.
He said some 30 guest teachers from different universities and colleges are taking classes at Zorarganj Textile College at present. Besides teachers, there are instructors for taking practical classes.
Noting that the number of teachers at the institution is inadequate, he said a process to recruit new teachers is underway.
He claimed that all the graduates of the institute have been able to secure good jobs.
Source: UNBConnect
