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Guru Griho

From Mymensingh
Asheq Mahmud Still Remembered

Aminul Islam

More than 60 years later, the name of Asheq Mahmud Talukder is still remembered by the people of Jamalpur and the adjoining areas for establishing the college named "Govt. Asheq Mahmud College" in Jamalpur district town on August 10, 1946. Asheq Mahmud, a landlord hailing from the village of Gabergram in Madarganj Upazila of Jamalpur donated Tk. 10,000 to establish the college in 1946 on 21 acres of land. The then Sub-divisional Officer of Jamalpur Md. Pana Ullah, a non-Bengali man devoted greatly to the spreading of education in the remote areas made all arrangements. It is said that Asheq Mahmud Talukder sent his donation, all in coins, loaded in two horse-driven carts from Madarganj, which was some 30 kilometers away from the district town. Azim Uddin Ahmed was appointed as the first principal of this college.

Asheq Mahmud along with his brothers also established some more institutions in Madarganj. The college which began its journey 60 years ago now is a college of pretty high standard. It was nationalized on May 7 in 1979. Starting with a few students, now the college has more than 6000 students including 4000 in the honors level.

Many prominent educationists did their jobs with earnest sincerity as principals of this college. The principals who served for more than 60 years to take the college to such a position since its establishment in 1946 are (before nationalization) Azimuddin Ahmed, AHMA Quddus, Abdul Awal, Md. Habibur Rahman and Sujat Ali Miah. The principals after the nationalization are Md. Ali Azam (1980), Abul Hossain Khan, M Hossain Ali, Md. Golam Rahman, Md. Mujibur Rahman (In-charge), Prof. Md. Ashraf Uddin, Md. Reazul Karim Talukder, Prof. Md. Mozammel Hoque, Prof. AYM Ekram-ud-doula, Prof. Martin Bivash Dey, Md. Altaf Hossain, Prof. Md. Motiur Rahman, Alhaj Prof. Md. Anwar Hossain, Prof. Md. Mujibur Rahman and Prof. Md. Mozammel Huq, present principal of the college.

Now the college has the opportunity to render honours education in 14 subjects and Masters in four subjects. The subjects are Bengali Literature, English Literature, Political Science, Islamic History and Culture, Islamic Studies, Economics, Philosophy, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Mathematics, Management and Accounting. The remote students have the opportunity to do Masters Degrees in Bengali Literature, Political Science, Management and Accounting.

Though honors courses had started in this college a few years ago, the college is still running with the previous staff pattern. When the college offered only Intermediate and Degree level, the number of teaching staff was 56 and the college is still running with this staff and the six posts in various departments including Physics, Management and Mathematics are lying vacant, said Md. Moniruzzaman, Vice-Principal of the college. Now the college needs some 100 classrooms to continue classes from Intermediate to Masters Level but it has an accommodation facility of 26 classrooms. For the scarcity of classrooms, we have to run two shifts - morning for Intermediate and Degree students while day shift for Honours and Masters students, informed the Vice-Principal. We are regularly writing to the authorities concerned to mitigate classroom problems but any fruitful action is yet to be taken, added the Vice-Principal. He also said that due to lack of boundary walls of the college, the college land is being grabbed.

The college has a hostel facility for 350 students, both male and female in three dormitories but it is very meagre compared to the number of students, sources said, adding that the hostel facility should be increased so that students from remote areas can enjoy educational facilities at a low cost.

Principal of the college Prof. Md. Mozammel Huq said that the development of infrastructures is needed for the smooth running of this college. After the introduction of honors courses, the college needed more rooms including seminar rooms and more library facilities for the honors and masters students but we have to run the school with many problems, added the principal. The college now needs a staff of 150 teachers but there are only 50 teachers on staff, said the principal.

The college has a library containing 10,000 books but many more books are needed for the Honors and Masters students said the principal, adding that vacant posts in the library including the post of Librarian should be filled up first in the interest of the school.