Dhaka: An e-library was opened at the Business Studies Faculty of Dhaka University (DU) on Monday.

DU Vice-chancellor Professoressor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique inaugurated the e-library, sponsored by leading mobile phone operator Robi, on the faculty premise.

A total of 35 overseas universities and international publishers will be affiliated with the e-library at the DU Faculty of Business Studies, said a press release.

These facilities will directly benefit some 6,092 students and 208 teachers of the faculty.

Thanks to a tripartite agreement among Dhaka University, University Grants Commission (UGC) and Robi Axiata Limited, the students from other universities of the country will also be able to access to this state-of-the-art educational facility.

Besides, free access to e-books, scientific journals and research papers through this e-library is expected to richly contribute to raising the standard of education in this prestigious university.

Apart from sponsoring the establishment of this facility, Robi will also be maintaining the facilities for the next 15 years.

Robi's Chief Operating Officer (COO) Mahtab Uddin Ahmed along with other high officials of the company was present at the programme.

DU Pro-VC (Academic) Professoressor Dr Nasreen Ahmad, Pro-VC (Administration) Professor Dr Shahid Akhtar Hossain, Treasurer Professor Dr Kamal Uddin and Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies Professor Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam along with other faculty members and students were also present at the inauguration ceremony.

This facility is envisioned to be helpful in creating the business leaders for the Digital Bangladesh. Given the unfettered access ensured by the e-library for the students, the country's future leaders will be properly equipped to deal with the challenges of the modern world.

Dean of DU's Faculty of Business Studies Professor Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam observed that the e-library will facilitate the faculty to be able to create business leaders who can lead the country to meet its potential in the digital era.

The DU vice-chancellor expressed his delight in inaugurating the e-library. Terming this initiative the pioneering venture of the country, he felt that the e-library will place the faculty as well as the university to a new level of academic excellence in the world of learning.

Professor Arefin thanked Robi for partnering with the university in this monumental project. He also congratulated the faculty dean and members for successfully implementing this project.

He hoped that using this facility, the university will be able to produce human resources who can compete with the best anywhere in the world.

Speaking on the occasion, Robi's COO Mahtab Uddin Ahmed expressed his gratitude to the DU authorities for allowing Robi to be part of this great initiative.