Department of Botany was founded and headed by the late Professor Ali M. Eunus in 1963. The department started functioning academically with the admission of 10 students to M.Sc. Final year, who passed B.Sc. (Hons) examination from Rajshahi College. M.Sc. Previous class was started in 1964 and B.Sc. (Hons) in 1965. The department was originally housed in the Zuberi Guest House and subsequently in the First Science Building, Second Science Building and finally in the Third Science Building.

After the independence and subsequent promulgation of the Rajshahi University act (1973), Professor A.M. Eunus was appointed as the first Chairman of the Department. Afterward, Professor Asheque Ahmed, Professor M.A. Jabbar Miah, Professor Sultanul Alam, Professor O.I. Joarder, Professor M. Shamsur Rahman, Professor M.I. Zuberi, Professor M. Anisur Rahman, Professor Asheque Ahmed, Professor Nishit Kumar Paul, Professor M.S. Alam and Professor Shamsun Nahar took up the assignment of the Chairman by three-year rotation basis. The present Chairman of the department is Professor M.A. Khaleque.

With the passage of time, the numbers of teachers and students have been increased considerably. At present there are approximately 350 students, 32 supporting staff and 34 promising teaching members. 

Our mission
The Department of Botany deals with all aspects of plant science from ecosystem to the cell. Our mission is to give the complete understanding of the mechanistic and practical application of different areas of plant biology. We educate students to discover, develop and disseminate science and technologies to serve the teaching, research, stakeholders and to prepare them for fulfilling private- and public-sector employment. We discover answers to complex biological problems that threaten plant diversity and crop production through science-based research, and we communicate our research findings through scholarly publications and relevant outreach programs to enhance the quality of life for residents of Bangladesh and the world.

Our vision
The Department of Botany is actively engaged in the development and application of science-based knowledge in plant sciences. Our vision is to get accreditation for teaching programs that educate future decision makers, managers in industries and novel research involving plants. We are continuously responding to developing problems, but will seek to be forward-looking and proactive in the stewardship of natural resources. To accomplish this vision, we must expand multidisciplinary teams to address critical regional, national and international needs. We strive to evolve our learning and outreach activities to address current and future economic, social, and technological developments and maintain an active dialogue with scientists of national and international institutions.

Our core values
We value novelty, professional truthfulness and attentiveness in fulfilling our mission of teaching, research and service. We are keen to maintain cooperation, sincerity and respect in a work environment that values everyone as unique individuals and promotes professional and personal growth and development. We endeavor to responsibly use resources entrusted to us and to honestly present our creative achievements to stakeholders.