Jahangirnagar University (Bengali: জাহাঙ্গীরনগর বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় Jahaŋgirnôgor Bishshobiddalôe) is a public university of Bangladesh. It is the one and only residential university in the country. The university was established in 1970 by the government of Pakistan by the Jahangirnagar Muslim University Ordinance, 1970. During the first two years, it operated as a project. Its first Vice-Chancellor took up office on September 24, 1970. The first group of students, a total of 150, was enrolled in four departments: Economics, Geography, Mathematics and Statistics. Its formal inauguration was delayed until January 12, 1971, when the university was formally launched by Rear Admiral S. M. Ahsan, the Chancellor. The university was formally launched on 12 January 1970. After the independence of Bangladesh, the university was renamed as Jahangirnagar University by Jahangirnagar University Act, 1973. In 2010 the university had a total of 10,500 students, 672 teachers, 206 staffs and 1,200 other employees. The university stands on the west side of the Asian Highway, popularly known as the Dhaka-Aricha Road, and is 32 kilometers from the capital. Spread over a land area of 697.