The Department of Public Health at the University of Dhaka was established as part of the institution’s long-standing commitment to advancing health sciences and addressing the pressing public health challenges of Bangladesh. The initiative formally began when, based on the recommendation of the Faculty of Biological Sciences dated 09 March 2014, a proposal submitted by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to open a dedicated Department of Public Health was placed for consideration. The proposal was discussed in the meeting of the Academic Council on 10 September 2014, where it received approval in principle in recognition of the growing national need for trained public health professionals, researchers, and policymakers.
Following this academic endorsement, the proposal was forwarded to the university’s Syndicate, which granted official approval in its meeting held on 30 September 2014. Subsequently, the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, through memo No. UGC/Administration/Public Universities/110 Part (Part-3)/2010/3127 dated 12 May 2015, approved the establishment of the Department of Public Health, thereby completing all statutory steps required for its formation.
To initiate academic and administrative activities, the University of Dhaka appointed Professor Dr. Emran Kabir Chowdhury from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology as the founding Chairman on 13 March 2023. He assumed office on 14 March 2023 and led the department until 17 November 2025, playing a pivotal role in its initial planning, curriculum development, and institutional groundwork. On 18 November 2025, Professor Dr. M. Rezaul Islam became the current Chairman of the Department, ushering in the next phase of academic expansion, program development, and strengthening of teaching and research capacity.
Since its establishment, the Department of Public Health has worked toward developing an academically rigorous and socially responsive public health program, integrating multidisciplinary perspectives from biological, social, behavioral, and environmental sciences. The department aspires to contribute meaningfully to national and global public health by producing competent graduates, fostering high-quality research, and collaborating with governmental and international organizations to advance public health practice and policy.