History of the University of Dhaka

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The University of Dhaka was established in 1921 as the first university in East Bengal. Following demands from Nawab Sir Khwaja Salimullah Bahadur and others, Viceroy Lord Hardinge proposed on 2 February 1912, that a new university should be established in this partition of Bengal.

Contents

Curzon Hall, where the science faculty of University of Dhaka was established in 1921. DSC03638.JPG
Curzon Hall, where the science faculty of University of Dhaka was established in 1921.

Introduction

The University was established as compensation for the annulment of the 1905 Partition of Bengal. The partition had established East Bengal and Assam as a separate province, with Dhaka as its capital. However, the partition was abolished in 1911. In 1913, public opinion was solicited before the university scheme was given its final shape, and the Secretary of State approved it in December 1913. [1] The first vice-chancellor of the university was Philip Joseph Hartog, who had been academic registrar of the University of London for 17 years. [2]

Foundation and early days

Established in 1921, under the Dacca University Act 1920 of the Indian Legislative Council, the university is modelled after British universities. Academic activities started on 1 July 1921, with three faculties: Arts, Science, and Law. Classes were taught in 12 departments: Sanskrit and Bengali, English, Education, History, Arabic and Islamic Studies, Persian and Urdu, Philosophy, Economics and Politics, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Law. Initially there were three dormitories for students: Salimullah Muslim Hall, Dacca Hall and Jagannath Hall. [3]

Opposition

Many notable people, especially Hindu leaders, opposed the then government's intention to establish the University of Dhaka. Advocate Dr Rashbehari Ghosh told viceroy that the establishment of a separate university at Dhaka would promote 'an internal partition of Bengal'. They also contended that "Muslims of Eastern Bengal were in large majority cultivators and they would benefit in no way by the foundation of a university". Asutosh Mukherjee, vice-chancellor of Calcutta University, also opposed its creation. [4] According to Major General M. A. Matin, Rabindranath Tagore attended the Gorer Math Rally which was against the formation of the university. However, the validity of his statement remains debatable. [5] [6] [7]

Establishment and the British era

Dhaka University Central Students Union building Dhakauniversity (58).JPG
Dhaka University Central Students Union building
Sir Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury, one of the proposers of University of Dhaka Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury.JPG
Sir Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury, one of the proposers of University of Dhaka

Under Vice-Chancellor Mahmud Hussain, the University consolidated its fundamental focus on academics. It also made national headlines when he extended an invitation to then-President of Pakistan, Ayub Khan, who declined citing 'security reasons'. This was the first of many subsequent refusals from high-ranking officials to visit East Pakistan.[ citation needed ]

Students from 1921 to 1948

There were few students in the early years of the University of Dhaka. Enrolment in the first few years is shown in the table below: [8]

SessionNumber of Muslim studentsNumber of total students
1929–304271300 (Except the training college and Medical Schools)
1930–313991300
1930–341027
1934–35933 (Including 39 female students)
1937–385951527
1939–406731527
1940–416001633
1945–461000 (Including 90 female students)
1946–471092 (Including 100 female students)
1947–481693 (Including 72 female students)
Rabindranath Tagore in Jagannath Hall RTagore RCManumdar.jpg
Rabindranath Tagore in Jagannath Hall
A poem written by Rabindranath Tagore for a magazine of Jagannath Hall Poem DU Rabindranath.JPG
A poem written by Rabindranath Tagore for a magazine of Jagannath Hall

University of Dhaka in the Liberation war (1970s)

Teachers who were killed in 1971

Students and teachers of the University of Dhaka played a vital role in the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh. The Ordinance of 1961 was annulled and substituted by the Dacca University Order of 1973., The new Order restored autonomy, and provided a democratic atmosphere for the teachers and students where they could engage freely in academic and intellectual pursuits.

Teachers at the University of Dhaka who were killed during the liberation war include: [1]

Name of TeacherInstitution
Dr. Mohammad MortuzaChief medical officer of the university
Giasuddin AhmedUniversity of Dhaka
Dr. ANM MuniruzzamanUniversity of Dhaka
Dr. Jyotirmoy Guha Thakurta University of Dhaka
AN Munir ChowdhuryUniversity of Dhaka
Mofazzal Haider ChowdhuryUniversity of Dhaka
Dr. Abul KhairUniversity of Dhaka
Dr. Serajul Hoque KhanUniversity of Dhaka
Rashidul HasanUniversity of Dhaka
Anwar PashaUniversity of Dhaka
Dr. GC Dev University of Dhaka
Dr. Fazlur RahmanUniversity of Dhaka
Dr. Faizul MohiUniversity of Dhaka
Abdul MuktadirUniversity of Dhaka
Sarafat AliUniversity of Dhaka
Sadat AliUniversity of Dhaka
AR Khan KhadimUniversity of Dhaka
Santosh C BhattacharyaUniversity of Dhaka
Mohammad SadeqUniversity Laboratory School
Anudippayan BhattachariyaUniversity of Dhaka

References

  1. 1 2 Sajahan Miah (2012). "University of Dhaka". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  2. "Sir Philip Hartog, a Great Educationist". The Times . London. 28 June 1947. p. 6. [Hartog] was appointed Academic Registrar to the University of London, and held that office with great efficiency for 17 17 years ... Hartog was made [Dhaka University's] first vice-chancellor.
  3. "Prospectus" (PDF). University of Dhaka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  4. "University of Dhaka".
  5. ফারহানা পারভীন. "ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় প্রতিষ্ঠায় বিরোধিতা করেছিলেন যারা". BBC News বাংলা. BBC Bangla. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  6. Matin, M. A. আমাদের স্বাধীনতা সংগ্রামের ধারাবাহিকতা এবং প্রাসঙ্গিক কিছু কথা[Amader Swadhinata Sangramer Dharabahikata abong proasangik kichu katha] (in Bengali). Dhaka: Ahmad Publishing House. ISBN   9841105348.{{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  7. "Prof Anisuzzaman says claims Rabindranath opposed Dhaka University are baseless".
  8. Dhaka University & the History of East Bengal: An interview of Professor Abdur Razzaq, written by-Sardar Fazlul Karim সরদার ফজলুল করিম রচিত ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় ও পুর্ব বঙ্গীয় সমাজ: অধ্যাপক আবদুর রাজ্জাকের আলাপচারিতা