Part of the land requisitioned belonged to the estate of Nawab Bahadur Sir Khwaja Salimullah.

Its students and teachers played a central role in the rise of Bengali nationalism and the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

[15] Notable alumni include Physicist Satyendra Nath Bose, known for Bose–Einstein statistics and the theory of Bose–Einstein condensate, Muhammad Yunus, winner 2006 Nobel Peace Prize and pioneer of microcredit, Muhammad Shahidullah, Natyaguru Nurul Momen, pioneer of Cultural & theatric activities of the university (he was both a student and later a teacher of DU), Serajul Islam Choudhury, Physicist Mohammad Ataul Karim, 20th-century Bengali poet Buddhadeb Bose and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, country's founding president.

The partition had established the Muslim majority Eastern Bengal and Assam as a separate province, with Dhaka as its capital.

However, the partition was abolished in 1911 due to severe opposition from Indian National Congress and Bengali Hindus.

To appease the majority Muslim masses of East Bengal, Lord Curzon agreed and declared that a university as a center of excellence would be established in Dhaka.

Nawab Sir Salimullah, who pioneered the university in Dhaka, donated 600 acres of land from his estate for this purpose.

On Huda's recommendation, Lord Ronaldshay appointed Ahmad Fazlur Rahman as a provost.

[20] Academic activities started on 1 July 1921 with 847 students[21] along with 3 faculties: Arts, Science and Law; 12 departments: Sanskrit and Bengali, English, Education, History, Arabic and Islamic Studies, Persian and Urdu, Philosophy, Economics and Politics, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Law; and 3 dormitories for students: Salimullah Muslim Hall, Dacca Hall and Jagannath Hall.

Dhaka University was the main place where the movement started with the students joining and protesting against the Pakistan Government.

11 of 1973, reconstitute and reorganized the University of Dhaka to improve the teaching and research provided and the administration after 1971 Independence war.

[25] On 18 July 2024, authorities at the premier Dhaka University announced an indefinite closure of the institution after protests demanding reforms in the quota system in government jobs turned violent and left at least six people, including three students, dead across the country.

[26][27] However, the university again started after the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amidst mass uprising.

In addition, it has a collection of over 30,000 manuscripts in other languages and a large number of microfilms, microfiche, and CDs.

[32] This advanced level E-Library is connected with 35 internationally renowned libraries and publication houses in the world.

[citation needed] This e-library was built in collaboration with Robi Axiata Limited in August 2015.

[32] The Medical Center of the University of Dhaka, near the Science Annex Building, offers free medical services and free pathological examinations to students, teachers, and staff and also family members of the teachers and staff.

The center provides service round the clock, seven days a week, with 30 doctors working in shifts.

Another one, the Science cafeteria was situated behind Curzon Hall, but currently, it has been broken down to construct a new 20-story building.

Students participate in national championships in games and sports for which prior training and coaching are offered.