Dhaka University is being reimagined as Bangladesh’s first digital campus city, a bold plan to knit smart technology, learning and local business into a single friendly space that boosts skills, jobs and services. The idea centers on upgrading campus internet, adding smart classrooms, makerspaces and incubation hubs, and making public spaces work as living labs where students, teachers and entrepreneurs test apps, run small businesses and solve city problems. Planners see several practical benefits: students get hands-on training in real projects, graduates gain experience that helps them find work, startups can grow with nearby research support, and residents enjoy new services such as e-libraries and community Wi-Fi. Designers aim to keep the campus walkable and green, so new digital tools sit alongside trees, study corners and cultural spots rather than replacing them. Local streets and shops could gain from more activity as campus life extends into nearby neighbourhoods, creating small jobs, new food stalls, bike repair shops and tutoring services. The proposal also highlights cleaner transport around the campus, smart lighting for safety, and better waste and water systems that use simple sensors to save energy and reduce costs. To make the idea work, schools and city leaders would need to partner with tech companies, telecom firms and financial groups that can supply reliable internet, affordable hardware and start-up funding. Equally important is training: teachers, lab staff and local business owners must learn new tools so students enjoy quality instruction and the wider community can join in. Many supporters point to small pilots that already show promise, such as digital classrooms, student-run repair shops and mini-tech fairs that draw visitors and build confidence in local solutions. Those pilots help planners design larger steps that are low cost and easy to manage, such as setting up shared workspaces, lending programs for laptops and simple online systems for bookings and payments. The idea asks for rules that protect privacy, keep costs fair and make sure access is open to all students, not only those who can pay more. Planners also stress the need to protect heritage buildings and student culture while introducing new tools, so the campus feels modern but still familiar. With steady, inclusive steps, a digital campus city could create more local work, improve learning, and make useful services easy to reach. The mood among students and educators who have seen early pilots is hopeful: small changes can lead to better jobs, more local shops and an active learning culture that spreads beyond gates. By focusing on skills, simple technology and community links rather than flashy gadgets, the plan offers a practical path to make Dhaka University a place where learning, life and local business grow together and community wellbeing.
