History of the University of Dhaka
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.
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. The Secretary of State approved it in December 1913.[1]
The first vice-chancellor of the university was Dr. Philip Joseph Hartog, the former 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 July 1, 1921 with three faculties: Arts, Science and Law, and with 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 also three dormitories for students: Salimullah Muslim Hall, Dacca Hall and Jagannath Hall.[3]
Establishment and the British era
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The advancement of the young university in the direction of academic excellence diligently marked by Hartog was carried forward by able successors such as Prof Harry Langley, AF Rahman, Dr. RC Majumdar, Dr. Mahmud Hussain and others. Under Vice-Chancellor Hussain, the University consolidated its fundamental focus on academics. It also made national headlines when he extended an invite to then-President of Pakistan Ayub Khan, who declined citing 'security reasons', the first of many subsequent refusals from high-ranking officials to visit East Pakistan.
Students from 1921 to 1948
There were few students in the early years of University of Dhaka. Enrollment quantities in the first few years is shown in the table below: [4]
| Session | Number of Muslim students | Number of total students |
| 1929–30 | 427 | 1300 (Except the training college and Medical Schools) |
| 1930–31 | 399 | 1300 |
| 1930–34 | 1027 | |
| 1934–35 | 933 (Including 39 lady students) | |
| 1937–38 | 595 | 1527 |
| 1939–40 | 673 | 1527 |
| 1940–41 | 600 | 1633 |
| 1945–46 | 1000 (Including 90 lady students) | |
| 1946–47 | 1092 (Including 100 lady students) | |
| 1947–48 | 1693 (Including 72 lady students) |
Tagore in Dhaka University
In 1926, the University of Dhaka invited Rabindranath Thakur to join a conference named The meaning of Art. He came to Dhaka and visited Curzon Hall on 10 February.
Dhaka varsity 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 independence war of Bangladesh. The infamous ordinance of 1961 was annulled and substituted by the Dacca University Order of 1973 which restored its autonomy and provided a democratic atmosphere for the community of teachers and students where they could engage freely and fully in academic and intellectual pursuits.
Teachers at the University of Dhaka who were killed during the liberation war include:[1]
| Name of Teacher | Institution | |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Mohammad Mortuza | Chief medical officer of the university | |
| Giasuddin Ahmed | University of Dhaka | |
| Dr. ANM Muniruzzaman | University of Dhaka | |
| Dr. Jyotirmoy Guha Thakurta | University of Dhaka | |
| AN Munir Chowdhury | University of Dhaka | |
| Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury | University of Dhaka | |
| Dr. Abul Khair | University of Dhaka | |
| Dr. Serajul Hoque Khan | University of Dhaka | |
| Rashidul Hasan | University of Dhaka | |
| Anwar Pasha | University of Dhaka | |
| Dr. GC Dev | University of Dhaka | |
| Dr. Fazlur Rahman | University of Dhaka | |
| Dr. Faizul Mohi | University of Dhaka | |
| Abdul Muktadir | University of Dhaka | |
| Sarafat Ali | University of Dhaka | |
| Sadat Ali | University of Dhaka | |
| AR Khan Khadim | University of Dhaka | |
| Santosh C Bhattacharya | University of Dhaka | |
| Mohammad Sadeq | University Laboratory School | |
| Anudippayan Bhattachariya | University of Dhaka |
References
- 1 2 Sajahan Miah (2012). "University of Dhaka". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ↑ "Sir Philip Hartog, a Great Educationist". London: The Times. 28 June 1947. p. 6.
[Hartog] was appointed Academic Registrar to the University of London, and held that office with great efficiency for 17 years ... Hartog was made [Dhaka University's] first vice-chancellor.
- ↑
- ↑ 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
External links
- University of Dhaka Official website
- History of the Formation of Dhaka University Our Bangla. Retrieved: 2007-07-2
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