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100 years of Dhaka University


Published : 01 Jul 2021 08:58 PM | Updated : 01 Jul 2021 11:40 PM

Dhaka University is the oldest university in Bangladesh. Many chapters of the country’s history are closely associated with this university. It has become the embodiment of many luminous chapters of the history in its long journey. 

Dhaka University set foot in 100 years with its golden past and the worn-out present. The university started its official journey on July 1 in 1921 to awaken the hopeless and aimless nation, and to spread the light of education among the backward Muslim population of East Bengal, which is now Bangladesh. It has not only created enlightened chapters since its inception, but also the university has produced a number of proud figures in all parts of the country.

Dhaka University was established after the abolition of Bangabhanga, a territorial reorganisation of the Bengal Presidency implemented by the British government. Before and after the abolition of Bangabhanga, the larger population of East Bengal was deprived of the overall facilities of higher education. There were only some colleges in East Bengal and Assam. It can be mentioned that today’s Sylhet region was then part of Assam. The Bangabhanga province was made up of Assam and East Bengal.

The then British empire announced the establishment of the university to deal with the situation following the abolition of Bangabhanga, to appease the agitated Muslim population of East Bengal and to quell the level of protest. However, the intention of British government was not good despite they made the announcement. They had no noble intention so that peasant Muslims to advance in all fields, including education. In simple words, the British established this university in a bid to prolong their rule. However, they had two purposes behind the move. 

Firstly, the Muslims were outraged by the abolition of Bangabhanga. The British rule can’t be prolonged by keeping this large population annoyed. With this realisation, the British government took the initiative to establish this university as part of a strategy to prolong their rule. Secondly, the British government wanted to create some ‘noble savages’, who would play the role of brokers for them. Some advanced-class of brokers were needed to prolong their rule in India. With such a mindset, the British government had already set up three universities in Kolkata, Madras and Bombay. 

The educated middle class of the universities did not join the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. The British Raj established the three universities with the issue in mind. Shortly after that incident, Lord Canning, the Governor-General of India, had taken initiative to establish the three universities. For the convenience of governing, the British rulers wanted to transform a section of Indians into ‘noble savages’ by teaching them civilization and grandeur. They also established Dhaka University for political purposes. 

Although the British government had said that the university was a compensation for abolition of Bangabhanga in 1905, there was no guarantee that the students would be satisfied with the compensation and would not join the independence movement. The strategy of British and their political purpose had foiled. Dhaka University continued to move at its own pace. It played vital role to save the mother tongue and achieve the independence of Bangladesh. It would not be an exaggeration to say that if Dhaka University had not been established, Bangladesh might not have been on the world map. Almost all of those who led the establishment of Bangladesh were students of Dhaka University.

Although there was a link between the abolition of Bangabhanga and the establishment of Dhaka University, the demand for the establishment of this university arose much earlier. According to Professor Dr Sufia Ahmed, Nawab Sir Salimullah had been pressuring the government to establish a university in Dhaka since 1905. 

In his book ‘Dhaka University and Higher Education in Bangladesh’, Syed Abul Maksud writes, “Barrister Sahibzada Aftab Ahmad Khan (Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University), Honorary Joint Secretary of Mohammedan Educational Conference, raised the demand of the establishment of this university for the first time. He made this demand at the 20th session of the conference held in Dhaka on 27-29 December in 1906. Four years later, Babu Ananga Mohan Saha, a member of the then East Bengal and Assam Provincial Management Council, in 1910 raised the demand of the establishment of an independent university and a High Court in Dhaka. On August 19 in 1911, the East Bengal-Assam Provincial Muslim Association and the Provincial Muslim League raised the demand during a reception programme in Dhaka.

The province of ‘Bangabhanga’ came into effect on October 16 in 1905 with East Bengal and Assam making Dhaka as its capital. It was a stepping stone for the backward Muslims in all aspects, including education. A large section of Hindu leaders were strongly opposed to it. In the face of their opposition, Bangabhanga was finally abolished on December 12 in 1911. For this reason, the Muslim community became angry. Under such a circumstance, Governor General Lord Hardinge arrived in Dhaka on January 29 in 1912 on a three-day visit. A 19-member delegation of Muslim leaders including Nawab Sir Salimullah, Nawab Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury and Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Haque met the Governor General on January 31. They demanded the resumption of Bangabhanga, or establishment of at least a university in Dhaka as compensation. At that time, Lord Hardinge announced the establishment of the university.

The announcement of the establishment of the university created great controversy. Hindu leaders continue to oppose. Like the opposition to Bangabhanga, they continued to speak in various meetings and publish statements in newspapers to build public opinion against Dhaka University. Syed Abul Maksud writes, “After the official announcement of the establishment of a university in Dhaka, mainly the upper caste Hindu intellectuals, politicians and lawyers started opposing it.” In his book, Professor Dr Mahbub Ullah writes, “The promise of the British rulers to establish a university in Dhaka as a consolation for the people of East Bengal who were disappointed by the repeal of Bangbhanga was delayed for 10 years in the face of opposition from Hindu gentlemen.”

When Lord Hardinge returned to Kolkata from Dhaka, a delegation led by Sir Rashbehari Ghosh met him on February 18 in 1912. They strongly opposed the establishment of Dhaka University. The delegation included Raja Peary Mohan Mukherjee, Babu Bhupendranath Basu, Surendranath Banerjee, Ambica Charan Mazumdar, Kishori Mohan Chowdhury and others. They presented a memorandum to the Governor General, where various arguments were presented against the establishment of Dhaka University. Other national leaders who opposed the university include Bipin Chandra Pal, Surendranath Samajpati, Barrister Byomkesh Chakraborty and others. Among the Hindu leaders of Dhaka were influential lawyer and former municipality chairman Ananda Chandra Roy, Babu Trailokyanath Bose and others. Some pro-Congress Muslim leaders also opposed it. Among them, Barrister Abdur Rasul, Maulana Akram Khan, Moulvi Abul Quasim and Moulvi Liaquat Hossain of Bihar. 

Meanwhile, Lord Hardinge, who announced the establishment of the university, also opposed the establishment of the university internally. On October 8 in 1912, Lieutenant Governor C. Bailey proposed to Lord Hardinge to establish a university and High Court in Dhaka. He did not respond to Bailey’s proposal that day. Although the journey of this university was delayed due to strong opposition from Hindus, the role of some Hindu leaders was in favor of the university. One of them is the Zamindar of Baliati in Dhaka. Jagannath Hall was named after his father Jagannath Roy Chowdhury.

(To be continued)


Ehsanul Haque Jasim is a Media worker and PhD researcher, Dhaka University.