The Tripura Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a bill for the establishment of the Dhamma Deepa International Buddhist University at Manu Bankul. Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath introduced the Dhamma Deepa International Buddhist University Bill-2022 on September 23, the first day of the session. The university will promote the study of Buddhism, science, technology, medicine, dentistry, management, law and other professional courses. In addition, courses in History, Culture, Philosophy and Art are also included.

Discussing the bill in the House, BJP MLA Shankar Rai said that the state government has already given 74.28 acres of land worth Rs 75.84 lakh for the university. Roy, who represents Sabroom constituency, said he has sought 100 acres more land for the university. The work of the university could not be started due to the pandemic. However, CPI(M) MLA Tapan Chakraborty, former education minister demanded that the bill be sent to a select committee for further discussion on the matter.

Nath said that interest towards higher studies is increasing rapidly among the students in the northeastern state. Presently the state has two government universities and one private university National Institute of Technology (NIT), Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) and Central University of Forensic Sciences. With the opening of a new Buddhist university, students will get more higher education in the state. Nath said though the Bahujan Hitaya Shiksha Trust would run the proposed Buddhist university, the state government would have control over it as mentioned in the bill. If any point does not come to the notice of the government, the bill can be amended and there is no need to send it to a select committee for re-examination, he said. After which the bill was passed unanimously in the house.