Memorable and Rainy Days of Jahangirnagar University

Sweet, Memorable and Rainy Days of Jahangirnagar University

The anodyne and serine beauty of nature coupled with the chirping of countless guest birds invites the attention of all even those who are indifferent to the beauty of nature. The green vegetation of natural and planned trees and the red and white coloured buildings have tucked up among the small hills have added the beauty of the campus. It’s a heavenly and adoring place to make someone concentrated on study or mediation. Yes, this campus attracted me not only because of these phenomena but also because of its unique residential facilities. Only one public university in our country proclaims the name of fully residential which leads many to give preference to this highest seat of learning. I used to be in this campus for about six years which stored many eventful occurrences both pleasant and unpleasant. The effort of Daily Star has opened a new door to pour the ideas and memories of academic institutes of various individuals. I have taken this opportunity.

Jahangirnar could have been an excellent place of giving and taking knowledge. The research and spreading the light of learning could have marked this university making it quite different from other universities of the country as it is fully residential. Accommodation is a serious problem in all the universities of Bangladesh. Many specialties have made it different and unique from other public universities. The limited number of students in each department, residential facilities for all the students, calm and quite environment and free from the din and bustle of Dhaka city, library facilities, forty minutes journey from the city offering metropolitan facilities though not touched by the sound and disturbances of city life. Sound and environmental pollution don’t plague the people of this campus. All the students almost know each other and teachers are closer to the pupils due to this homely atmosphere and most probably because of living close to nature.
My first year days are still vivid in my memory. When I forgot to take the text to the class, Tahmina Quamrunnessa ( now Tahmian Ahmed teaches at Dhaka University) admonished me saying “ Have you forgot to have your tiffin?” How motherly the attitude , behaviour and controlling device is! Really very nice atmosphere and relation between teachers and students prevailed in those days. Professor Shahin Kabir advises us to drink more water. As soon as we met her, she just asked us how are you with a broad smile. Sohel Ahmed asked us to go to his chamber if we could not follow the class clearly. Shafia Sahana before going abroad arranged a special class in her chamber in her room. Abu Taher Majumber came to our room to teach Browning. Dr. Nurul Islam offered the students homemade sweetmeats at his home. Professor Harnur Rashid just like a friend talked to all of us. Our Provost Dr. M. Kabir invited all of us to his residence during Eid day. One of our teachers told us it was beyond imagination for them when they had been the students of Dhaka University.

This beautiful and calm campus was rocked by rowdy student politics sometimes and we were the worst sufferers since the inception of the university. A handful of so-called students used to vitiate the whole university campus from time and again. Most of these students were either from locality or from Dhaka city. I got astonished to see their conduct, behaviour and everyday activities in the highest seat of learning. How they could get into the university. What kind of family they belong to that they don’t feel any hesitation to mercilessly beat their fellow classmates virtually for nothing just to show their muscle power. Actually since then, I started hating student politics. In the name of student politics these students commit all sorts of crimes and these same people find their place in the national politics later on. What the nation gets or can expect from these kind of students? One night how the rowdy students attacked the teacher’s residence and set ablaze teachers’ cars made me think what these boys would give the nation when they would be working in the national level. Some of these dark sides and memories still raise many questions in my mind.
Beyond these exceptions the rest other events are worth remembering. The performance at the regular interval in the open stage, sound atmosphere of the campus served both mental and physical food to the students to get nourishment for future life. Very friendly teacher like Professor Abu Taher Majumder, Dr. Nurul Islam (presently teaches at Queens Univeristy), Sohel Ahmed, Prof. Harun or Rashid ( Ex-Director General of Bangla Academy) are worth mentioning. I cannot but forget that in one Eid for some special reasons some of us used to stay in the campus. Our provost Dr. M. Kabir ( Professor of Statistics) invited all of us to his residence. Really it was very homely situation,though all the students did not go to his residence. One of our teachers told that we were lucky enough. Being a student of Dhaka University we never could expect such kind of personal invitation to any teacher’s residence. How close and homely atmosphere Jahangirnar University campus offers can easily be imagined. Dr. Nurul Islam, very grave and somber person, hardly talks but very soft. One night several students visited his residence who were entertained with sweetmeats and it was home made. University level teaching needs this kind of environment which this campus can make available.

If we look at other public university campuses we notice almost reverse situation. As a fully residential university Jahangirnagar holds some specialties which have made it different from other universities. It really offers genuine environment for study and research. We must fully utilize its full potentialities.

Md. Masum Billah
The writer works for Post Primary Basic And Continuing Education ( PACE) Programme
BRAC Head Office, Dhaka. ( Presently he is working as Programme Manager)
Phone: 9355253 (home), 01714-091431(cell)