University Press Limited

University Press Limited, commonly known as UPL, is a Bangladeshi publishing house headquartered in Dhaka. Established in 1975, it emerged as the successor to the Dhaka branch and publishing program of Oxford University Press after that office closed following the creation of independent Bangladesh. The new company retained local employees from the former Oxford operation and continued a publishing infrastructure that already had experience in editorial work, educational materials, and distribution. The company’s early direction was shaped by Mohiuddin Ahmed, who had worked for Oxford University Press in Karachi and returned to Bangladesh after the 1971 Liberation War. He became the chief executive of the Oxford operation in Bangladesh and also coordinated editorial activities among several regional branches. Because UPL did not initially possess the same depth of expertise in Bengali literary publishing, it concentrated particularly on English-language academic and research books. It also entered into arrangements with Oxford University Press and Orient Longman to adapt school textbooks, beginning with six Oxford titles. Over time, UPL developed into one of Bangladesh’s best-known scholarly and cultural publishers. Its list has included academic research, history, social science, literature, Bangladesh studies, educational works, and general-interest books. The publisher is especially associated with serious nonfiction about Bangladesh’s political history and the 1971 Liberation War. Its Road to Bangladesh series, launched in the early 1990s, was designed to present multiple perspectives on the country’s Liberation War and has become a significant reference point for researchers because of the specialist knowledge and documentary standards associated with the volumes. UPL has also played a role in widening access to books. It is described as the first publisher in Bangladesh to export books, extending the reach of Bangladeshi scholarship beyond the domestic market. By 2018, it had published approximately 1,500 books. The publisher’s record of recognition includes 16 National Book Centre Awards since 1981, according to published reference material. In addition to commercial publishing, UPL has supported literary and educational initiatives. In 2017 it introduced the Adopt-a-Library program with Lift Up Asia and Asialoka Trust. The program was designed to improve access to books and encourage reading among young people by supplying selected libraries and educational institutions with book bundles. Eligible institutions included primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities, young learners’ centers, and madrassas. By 2019, at least 1,200 institutions had responded to the initiative. UPL marked its 40th founding anniversary with a 2018 event at the Bangla Academy auditorium. The occasion included the first UPL Excellence Award, presented to 41 authors, institutions, and patrons. The event’s participants included prominent Bangladeshi figures from public life, scholarship, journalism, business, and culture. UPL’s continuing identity is therefore broader than that of a textbook or university press: it operates as a national scholarly publisher whose catalog connects academic research, historical memory, literary culture, and public access to books.

University Press Limited was established in Dhaka in 1975 as the successor to Oxford University Press’s Bangladesh branch. The transition followed the closure of the Oxford office in Dhaka after Bangladesh’s independence. UPL took over the former office and publishing program and retained the local employees who had worked for the predecessor operation. Mohiuddin Ahmed was central to this transition. He had initially been posted to Oxford University Press’s Karachi office and returned to Bangladesh in 1972. He subsequently served as chief executive of the Oxford operation in Bangladesh while also working as a roving editor coordinating editorial activities across Oxford branches in Dhaka, Delhi, Karachi, and Malaysia. His experience helped provide continuity when UPL began operating as an independent successor. The company’s initial publishing strategy emphasized English-language academic and research books. This reflected both the expertise available within the new organization and the difficulty of immediately building a large Bengali literary publishing program. UPL also entered agreements with Oxford University Press and Orient Longman to adapt school textbooks, beginning with six Oxford books. These arrangements gave the new publisher a foundation in educational publishing while it developed its own catalog. UPL later broadened its list to include history, social sciences, literature, Bangladesh studies, educational works, and general-interest titles. It became particularly prominent for books addressing Bangladesh’s history and the Liberation War. Its Road to Bangladesh series, begun in the early 1990s, brought together books presenting different perspectives on the war and its historical context. The series is regarded as an important contribution to scholarship because its titles draw on specialist research and seek to maintain a high level of factual and analytical rigor. The publisher also developed an international dimension. Reference material identifies UPL as the first publisher in Bangladesh to export books. This helped circulate Bangladeshi scholarship and literary material outside the domestic market. By 2018, UPL was reported to have published roughly 1,500 books. Its publishing achievements were also recognized through 16 National Book Centre Awards beginning in 1981. Beyond its catalog, UPL has pursued initiatives intended to strengthen reading and institutional access to books. In 2017, it launched Adopt-a-Library in cooperation with Lift Up Asia and Asialoka Trust. The program allowed schools, colleges, universities, young learners’ centers, and madrassas to seek sponsored bundles of books. Institutions could select from proposed sets, while donors could choose organizations from a waiting list. At least 1,200 institutions had responded to the program by 2019. UPL celebrated its 40th anniversary at the Bangla Academy auditorium in 2018. The event included the inaugural UPL Excellence Award, which recognized 41 authors, institutions, and patrons. The anniversary program illustrated the company’s position within Bangladesh’s intellectual and cultural community. UPL’s history is consequently defined by institutional continuity from the Oxford branch, a strong academic and research orientation, sustained attention to national history, and efforts to expand access to books.

• 2018

  40th anniversary and first UPL Excellence Award

  [1]University Press Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  UPL holds an anniversary event at Bangla Academy and presents its first Excellence Award to 41 authors, institutions, and patrons.

• 2018

  Catalog reaches approximately 1,500 books

  [1]University Press Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  Reference material reports that UPL had published around 1,500 books by this year.

• 2017

  Adopt-a-Library program launches

  [1]University Press Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  UPL begins a book-access initiative with Lift Up Asia and Asialoka Trust to support libraries and educational institutions.

• 1990

  Road to Bangladesh series is initiated

  [1]University Press Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  UPL launches its best-known historical publishing initiative, a continuing series examining Bangladesh’s Liberation War from multiple perspectives.

• 1981

  National Book Centre recognition begins

  [1]University Press Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  UPL begins a record of National Book Centre Award recognition that would reach 16 awards according to published reference material.

• 1975

  University Press Limited is established

  [1]University Press Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  UPL begins operations in Dhaka as the successor to Oxford University Press’s former Bangladesh branch and publishing program.

A leading Bangladeshi scholarly and cultural publisher combining academic research, history, literature, educational publishing, and general-interest books, with particular authority in Bangladesh studies and Liberation War scholarship.

• History and Bangladesh studies · 1990

  Road to Bangladesh series

  An ongoing series initiated in the early 1990s that examines the Bangladesh Liberation War and related historical issues through varied perspectives. The series is associated with research-based titles and is valued for its contribution to scholarly discussion of the war.

• Academic publishing · 1975

  Academic and research books

  UPL’s core list includes English-language academic and research publications across history, social sciences, Bangladesh studies, and related fields. These works form the central scholarly identity of the press and support research and higher education readerships.

• Educational publishing · 1975

  Educational and school textbooks

  The company entered educational publishing through arrangements with Oxford University Press and Orient Longman to adapt school textbooks, initially working with six Oxford titles. Educational publishing formed part of UPL’s early operating base.

• Trade publishing

  Literary and general-interest books

  In addition to scholarly works, UPL publishes literary, cultural, historical, and general-interest books for broader readers. This range allows the press to connect academic knowledge with Bangladesh’s wider reading public.

• 2017Adopt-a-Library

  Bangladesh

  UPL created Adopt-a-Library with Lift Up Asia and Asialoka Trust to encourage reading and improve book access. Schools, colleges, universities, young learners’ centers, and madrassas could apply for sponsored bundles of 30 books, while donors selected institutions to support.

  Outcome. At least 1,200 institutions had responded to the program by 2019, according to the cited reference material.

  Source

• 1990

  Develop the Road to Bangladesh historical seriesStrategy

  Background

  UPL sought to deepen its contribution to scholarship on Bangladesh’s national history and the Liberation War.

  Action taken

  The publisher initiated an ongoing series presenting different perspectives on the Liberation War.

  Aftermath

  The series became one of UPL’s most recognized publishing initiatives and an important resource for scholars.

  Source

• 1975

  Continue the former Oxford Dhaka publishing programStrategy

  Background

  The closure of Oxford University Press’s Dhaka office created the need for a successor organization in Bangladesh.

  Action taken

  UPL took over the office and publishing program, retained local employees, and maintained links with Oxford University Press and Orient Longman for adapted educational titles.

  Aftermath

  The transition gave UPL an established operational base and helped it develop into a major Bangladeshi academic publisher.

  Source

1. 1University Press Limiteden.wikipedia.org
2. 2University Press Limited archived external referenceuplbooks.com