The Department of Zoology, University of Chittagong was established in 1973 under the headship of Dr. Shafique Haider Chowdhury. The department was first housed on the western side of the second floor of the Science Faculty Building sharing with the Department of Botany which was also introduced in 1973. The first batch of students in the B.Sc (Honours) was admitted to this department in the same year. The Department offers specialization at the M.S., M.Phil.,and Ph.D. levels in different branches of zoology, viz., Fisheries, Entomology, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Parasitology and Environmental Biology.
The Department has produced more than 900 M.Sc. graduates in Freshwater Biology, Fisheries and Limnology and Wildlife Biology and a good number of M.Phil.and Ph.D. Every year and so on.
The Department of Zoology has an elaborate programme for B.Sc. Honors, M.S. M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees to ensure the international standard. The B.Sc Honours course has designed a four-year-long study based on theory and practical works. The one-year M.S. degree based either on coursework and practical(group A) or, coursework and research (group B).
There are 14 faculties chaired the Department of Zoology from the date of establishment, followed by Dr. Mohammad Ismail Miah from 29.9.2013 to date.
A reasonable rich ‘Seminar Library’ is present in the Department. It contains 4000 books, 380 Scientific Journals and periodic, and regularly added dissertation submitted by M.S. students and M.Phi./Ph.D. researchers.
A museum, as rich house of 1500 specimens (from home and abroad) in glass jars, skeleton, stuffed animals, and models. These specimens are used for teaching in class and student’s study. Moreover, a new insect museum holding references collections of representative insects of all groups has been established.