It has a commitment to produce good professionals and to provide medicare services to people, the poor in particular.

The institute had started its journey as Institute of Applied Sciences in May 13, 1989 with 42 students. National Professor Dr. Nurul Islam is its founder Vice-chancellor.

It was upgraded to USTC in 1992. It has now has 11 subjects in four faculties. Over 30 per cents of its students are from foreign countries including India, Nepal, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bhutan, Malaysia, Norway, Sudan, Sri Lanka and Palestine.

Prof. Islam told a group of visiting journalists from Dhaka recently that they are going to construct a 500-bed 20-story hospital, a 16-story academic building, 8-story Zia International Institute of Business Administration and a Uursing Institute. The work on the ambitious projects will begin this year.

He said that more foreign students would come to study at the USTC if the country's political situation remains congenial.

The USTC offers courses in BBA and MBA under its Faculty of Business Admission, B.Sc in CSE under the Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology, MBBS under faculty of Medicine and B. Pharm under Faculty of Basic Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The USTC has a 350-bed Bangabandhu Memorial Hospital on the campus, comprising four full-fledged departments including Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry and Community Medicine, Laboratory, lecture rooms. It is equipped with modern medial and surgical equipment.

Visiting journalist ASM A Khaleque, Associate Editor of Dhaka-based News Today, inaugurated the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the hospital on April 23.

There are about 1,500 students including of 350 foreign students on roll at USTC now.

This correspondent also talked to some of the students. Farhad Tanjum, a 1st year MBBS student from Kashmir, India said the students enjoy all facilities at the university. Asked about teachers and teaching system, she said, "We have highly qualified teachers and friendly environment on the campus and at hostel.

Abu Saleh Md Ali, a second year student of Pharmacy said teachers are very co-operative and the quality of teaching is satisfactory.

They said they have good library facility and modern computer laboratories, qualified and full time teachers counseling. Tuition fees are affordable and medical facilities are provided free of cost.

The students have expressed their optimism that the USTC would be turned into an ideal center for quality education and medicare services not only for Chittagong but also for the whole of Bangladesh in future.

The USTC has two dormitories, one for male and the other for female students.

Foreign female students have a separate dormitory.