President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday laid the foundation stone of Thakurgaon University, marking a major step towards establishing the long-awaited higher education institution in the northern district.

The foundation stone was laid at around 11am at the designated site of the proposed university in the Jamalpur area of Thakurgaon Sadar upazila, beside the Thakurgaon-Pirganj road.

The ceremony took place on the second day of the President’s two-day official visit to his home district, his first visit to Thakurgaon since assuming the presidency.

After laying the foundation stone, President Mirza Fakhrul said the establishment of the university would help expand higher education, create employment opportunities and improve the quality of education.

“The establishment of the university will expand higher education, create employment opportunities and improve the quality of education,” he told journalists after the ceremony.

The university project has been described as a long-standing demand of the people of Thakurgaon. The foundation-stone laying ceremony marks the formal beginning of the institution’s development at the proposed site.

President Mirza Fakhrul arrived in Thakurgaon on Sunday afternoon on a two-day official visit. It was his first visit to his home district after becoming the country’s 23rd President.

A helicopter carrying the President landed at Shahid Mohammad Ali Stadium in Thakurgaon. He was subsequently received in accordance with the state protocol and accorded a guard of honour at the Circuit House.