Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC has provided financial aid worth Tk 10 lakh for the construction of a data analytics and service centre at the Department of Statistics of the University of Dhaka.

Mohd Rafat Ullah Khan, managing director (current charge) of the bank, handed over the cheque of the financial support to Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan, vice-chancellor of the university, at a function held at the university on Sunday, according to a press release.

Prof Khan emphasised the need to further strengthen the relationship between the university and the people.

"We do not want to keep Dhaka University dependent solely on the government," he said.

Therefore, he called on alumni and donor organisations to cooperate in the overall development of the university, including the formation of trusts and funds, and infrastructural development.

The bank's MD said that the construction of this building would make data analytics easier and more accessible, and that the country's banking sector would benefit from this service centre.

Prof Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, treasurer of the university; Prof Md Lutfar Rahman, pro-vice-chancellor of National University; Prof Zafar Ahmed Khan, chairman of the Statistics Department; and Prof Sayma Sharmin, convener of the building construction committee; were present.

Md Abdullah Al Mamun and SM Abu Zafar, deputy managing directors of the bank; Habib Ullah, senior executive vice-president; and Jalal Ahmed, executive vice-president, along with top executives of both institutions, were also present.