University of Khulna established in 1990 on a land area of 100 acres at Gallamari of the divisional city of Khulna on the south of Bangladesh. In 1983, the university grants commission submitted a proposal to the government for the establishment of the university. The proposal was made according to Section 5(1) of the University Grants Commission Ordinance on establishment of new universities and expansion of university education. The government then formed a committee headed by Professor Zillur Rahman Siddiqui to develop a design for the proposed university. Based on the recommendations of the committee, the jatiya sangsad (Parliament) passed a bill on 31 July 1990 to establish the university. The university started its academic programmes in 1991.
In 2000-01, the university had 3 faculties and 11 departments under them. The number of students was 1,100, including 15 from abroad. The number of teachers was 120 and non-teaching staff 210. That year the university had 2 dormitories, which accommodated 549 students. The university library had 15,823 titles of books and journals and periodicals.