The university was established in 2011 and began academic activities at undergraduate level in six departments under four faculties on 24 January 2012.

The permanent suburban campus of 50 acres of the university is located in Barisal Sadar Upazila beside Dhaka-Patuakhali Highway on the bank of Kirtankhola river.

It is located at Karnakathi on the eastern bank of the Kirtonkhola river beside the Barisal-Patuakhali highway about 2 kilometers from the center of Barisal City.

In 1973, then-Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared he wished to establish a university in Barisal during a rally held in the city.

[4] After three decades, following strong demand from the people of Barisal, the proposal was passed in ECNEC on 20 November 2008, by then Caretaker Government.

The university officially started functioning from the first day of July 2011 in a temporary campus at Barisal Zilla School.

Harunor Rashid Khan, from University of Dhaka adorned the chairs of the Founder Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor respectively.

The construction of the main campus started in 2012 which is located at Karnakathi on the eastern bank of the Kirtankhola river in Barisal Sadar Upazila.

In academic year 2011–2012 around 400 students were enrolled in six inaugural departments - English, Management, Marketing, Economics and Mathematics.

[6] The university runs its own regular bus service to and from the city to facilitate frequent commuting of the students residing there.

The university own single and doubled-decker buses as well as microbuses to facilitate transport of students, staff and faculty members.