Rural Development Academy a rural uplift training institute established in 1973 at Sherpur upazila headquarters in Bogra district. It is an autonomous organisation governed by a board of governors of which minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives is the chairperson. Besides training programme of different schedules the Academy conducts research projects on rural development.

The Academy with its own initiative conducts three major skill-oriented training programme on livestock and poultry, horticulture nursery, fishery, homestead gardening, irrigation mechanics. The participants in training programmes include civil servants, officers of rural-related departments and non-officials such as local councilors, local leaders, members of cooperatives and NGOs, farmers, unemployed youths and women.

The Academy also organises special training courses on: (i) irrigation management programme, (ii) orientation course on rural development, (iii) orientation course on decentralised administration system, (iv) orientation course on computer operation.

Director General, a senior government official, is the chief executive of the Academy. There are also additional director general, joint directors, deputy directors, assistant directors and staff of sufficient strength. The campus is small but equipped with physical facilities of residential quarters, dormitory, library, auditorium, conference room, etc. [Golam Mostakim]