Institute of Statistical Research and Training (hereinafter referred to as ISRT), popularly known as ISRT, was established in 1964 by the third statute of the University of Dhaka with Dr. Quazi Motahar Husain as the founding Director. The main aim and objective of this institute was to provide facilities for advanced studies in statistics and to conduct survey and research on statistical methods and analysis and training. The first journal in statistics in Bangladesh called ‘Bulletin of the Institute of Statistical Research and Training’ came into existence with an inaugural issue on the occasion of the first graduation ceremony of the Institute in March 1967, which was later renamed as Journal of Statistical Research and recognized as an international journal. Initially the Institute offered post‐graduate degrees in Statistics (MStat), Demography (MDemo), MPhil and PhD along with a number of short courses in Statistics. The Institute started undergraduate courses in Applied Statistics in 1994. Since then the Institute offers 4‐year Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and 1‐year Master of Science (M.S.) degrees in Applied Statistics, and also M Phil and PhD degrees.
In the view of setting up of an alumni association of graduates in Applied Statistics from ISRT, an online group was created in 2005 with the initiatives from ex‐students. This group served as a common, virtual platform for the graduates till 2009. On 04 July 2009, an ad‐hoc convening committee was formed in order to undertake the preliminary activities to establish the official alumni association in ISRT. The convening committee was mandated to carry out the following activities: a) Develop alumni database b) Prepare constitution of the alumni association c) Initiate registration d) Plan future activities (e.g., arrange inaugural general meeting of the alumni members).
Mission
The mission statement of ISRTAA is promoting, fostering, and maintaining links between the alumni members and ISRT, University of Dhaka.
The major goals and objectives of ISRTAA are:
- To promote the interests of ISRT graduates and ISRT, and to aid in the academic development of ISRT.
- To facilitate and support reunions, meetings, and social events with the alumni members.
- To assist ISRT students with financial and logistic support and extend co‐operation and support to research activities undertaken at ISRT at individual level.
- To organize special events such as seminar, symposiums, and promote and Conferences on Applied Statistics to share research activities conducted by the alumni statisticians at home and abroad and other researchers, and to honour renowned statisticians for their contributions to application and development of statistical methods.
- To develop collaboration at different levels between the alumni statisticians and ISRT to improve the quality of teaching and research in ISRT.
In order to promote the objectives outlined above, ISRTAA activities will include, but not be limited to: financial assistance in the form of scholarship etc for ISRT students, the organization of conferences, seminars, workshops and lectures; the sponsorship and undertaking of study and research in ISRT, participation in conferences and meetings in collaboration with other professional associations such as the Bangladesh Statistical Association (BSA), Royal Statistical Society (RSS), American Statistical Association (ASA), International Statistical Institute (ISI) and similar organizations; publication of newsletters, proceedings of conferences, research findings, books, etc.; and maintenance of a current directory of members and other professional experts. ISRTAA may support charitable and other causes consistent with its goals and objectives.