Feature

Jahangirnar could have been an excellent place for the exchange of knowledge. Research and learning could have marked this university. Many features have made it different from other public universities. The limited number of students in each department, residential facilities for all the students, calm and quiet environment, library facilities, journey from the city, offering metropolitan facilities not touched by the disturbances of city life. Sound and environmental pollution don't plague this campus. Almost all students know each other, and teachers are closer to the pupils due to this homely atmosphere, and also 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 class, Tahmina Quamrunnessa (now Tahmina Ahmed, teaching at Dhaka University) admonished me by saying, “ Have you forgotten to have your tiffin?” How motherly the attitude and behaviour! Really, a very nice relation between teacher and students prevailed in those days.

This beautiful campus was rocked by rowdy student politics at times, and we were the worst sufferers. A handful of so-called students used to vitiate the whole university campus time and again. I was astonished to see their conduct and activities. How could they get into the university? What kind of family do they belong to, that they don't feel any hesitation to mercilessly abuse their fellow classmates just to show their strength? Since then, I have hated the student politics in the name of which these students commit crimes, and then find their place in national politics later on. What can the nation expect from these students? One night, when the rowdy students attacked the teacher's residence and set ablaze their cars, it made me think what these boys would give the nation when they would work in the national level. Some of these dark memories still raise many questions in my mind.

Beyond these exceptions, the other events are worth remembering. The regular performance in the open stage, and the sound atmosphere of the campus provide both mental and physical nourishment to the students. Friendly teachers like Professor Abu Taher Majumder, Dr. Nurul Islam (presently teaches at Queens Univeristy), Sohel Ahmed, and Prof. Harunur Rashid (Ex-Director General of Bangla Academy) are worth mentioning. I cannot forget that one Eid. some of us had to stay in campus for some reason. Our provost Dr. M. Kabir (Professor of Statistics) invited us all to his residence. Though all the students did not go to his residence, it was a very pleasant experience. One of our teachers remarked how lucky we were, saying that as students of Dhaka University, they could never expect such a personal invitation to any teacher's residence. One night several students visited the residence of Dr. Nurul Islam, where he entertained them with homdemade sweets. This is the kind of environment that should prevail at the University level, which this campus can boast of.

If we look at other public universities, we notice almost the reverse situation. As a fully residential university, Jahangirnagar has some special features, which have made it different from other universities. It offers genuine environment for study and research, and we must fully utilize its potentials.

The writer works for Post Primary Basic And Continuing Education ( PACE) Programme
BRAC Head Office, Dhaka.