Feature

Correct information about Bidyamayee Girls' High School

Dear Sir,
It draws my attention to an inaccurate statement in a report on Bidyamayee Girls' High School, Mymensingh in Star Campus, June 8, 2008, Vol. 2, and Issue-43. The report on page 9 mentioned that separate arrangement in the hostel was made for a Muslim girl in 1943 and Mrs. Fatema Akhtar Khatun was the first Muslim student who resided in the same school hostel in 1946 (page 10). Both the statements are not correct.

My aunt late Begum Azizun Nesa, an outstanding educationist former lecturer Lady Brabourne College, Calcutta; Professor and Vice-Principal, Eden Girls' College, Dhaka; Principal, Teachers' Training College for Women, Mymensingh (1953-68); Joint DPI (1969-77) and Member, Public Service Commission (1977-82) was the only Muslim student who resided in the hostel of the Bidyamayee School from 1931 to 1935.

Azizun Nesa an exceptionally meritorious student who always secured first position in her classes stood first in Lower Primary, Higher Primary and Intermediate Scholarship Examinations in District, Division and Circle (East Bengal) levels respectively and received scholarships (Azizun Nesa, Swaranio Baktitto, Bengali Department, Dhaka University, Dec. 2004, page 225). For better education of his brilliant daughter Fazar Ali a lawyer of Kishoreganj admitted Azizun Nesa in Bidyamayee School. According to her autobiography in Prabin Prashashaker Abiggata, edited by Nilufar Khatun, pp. 86-95, 1984, published by Bangladesh Government Press, Dhaka she was admitted in the above school in class seven in 1931. Being very pious she approached the Head Mistress Mrs. Bibhuti Bala Bakshi for a room for prayer. Her request was honoured. However, she had to select Sanskrit in absence of an Arabic teacher. Azizun Nesa secured First Division with distinction in the Matriculation Examination of 1935 under Calcutta University with letter marks in mathematics (compulsory and optional) and Sanskrit (compulsory and optional) from this school and received Government Scholarship (Amar Pareecheeto Breehottar Moimonsheengher Beesheesta Koekjon Naree, written and published by Helena Khan, page 25, 2000). Late Begum Azizun Nesa was a spinster. She dedicated her life for the cause of women education in the country. It may be mentioned that I was a student of Bidyamayee Girls' High School and I passed my Matriculation Examination from the same institution.

Dr. Roquia Begum
Professor and Former Chairperson
Department of Clinical Psychology
Dhaka University