- Comilla Victoria College
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Comilla Victoria College কুমিল্লা ভিক্টোরিয়া কলেজ 
Economics faculty of Comilla Victoria CollegeEstablished 1899 Type Public Director Md Abul Hossem Milon Academic staff 125 Students 14,900 Location Comilla, Bangladesh Campus Urban Affiliations Bangladesh National University Comilla Victoria College (Bengali: কুমিল্লা ভিক্টোরিয়া কলেজ) is a college in Comilla, Bangladesh. It is one of the oldest and renowned colleges in Comilla as well as in Chittagong division. The college is located on 29 acres of land including its intermediate and honors section.[1].“Dr Akhtar Hameed Khan [World-renowned social scientist] was invited by the Government of Pakistan to take charge as Principal of Victoria College in Comilla, East Pakistan [now Bangladesh]. He accepted the invitation and stayed at this position until 1958, with a break in 1954-55 when he joined as a Director of the Village Agricultural Industrial (Village-Aid) Program in East Pakistan”.[2]
Contents
History
Landlord of that time, Roy Bahadur Anandra Chandra Roy, established the college on 24 September 1899.[3] Anandra Chandra Roy was a renowned patron of promoting and developing education in the district. He was a contractor by profession and accordingly set aside a large amount of money to establish a college for the development of higher education in Comilla. Comilla Victoria College was thus born to fulfill his long cherished dream. In recognition of his noble endeavour, the British Government awarded him the title “Roy Bahadur” after the establishment of the college. A white sculpture was built in front of the main gate of intermediate section of the college to keep the memory of Roy Bahadur alive.[1] Queen Victoria was the empress of India from 1876 to 1901. At that time, Comilla was under the rule of the empire, hence the college was named as Comilla Victoria College.
Sattendranath Boshu was the first principal of the college. He was the headmaster of former Comilla Victoria School. He remained the principal of the college till his death. He was a scholar as well as a researcher of literature. He was also a professor of English and was awarded Rabindranath Prize for his outstanding contribution to literature.[1]
Until 1947, the college was affiliated to Calcutta University. Between 1925 and 1947 it offered three-year honors programs in English, Mathematics, Sanskrit, Politics, Economics and Arabic. The college introduced Bachelor of Science courses in 1942 and Bachelor of Commerce courses in 1956. Honors courses in Political Science, Physics, Chemistry, Accounting and Management were introduced in 1971-72. Masters Program in Bangla and Economics started in 1973.
In 1962-63, the degree section of the college was shifted to its new campus at Dharmapur, which is three kilometers from the old campus at Ranir Dighi. The old campus now houses the offices of the principal and vice-principal, teachers' room, principal's residence, gymnasium, auditorium, library, and science laboratories. The new campus has four new buildings and these are used for academic activities. The college was nationalised in 1968. Many of the students fought in the country's war of independence. ICMA program was started from 1982. In 1984-85, it became a postgraduate college. In 1996, the college had honours courses in 16 subjects.
Campus
Victoria College is located on 29 acres (120,000 m2) of land including its intermediate and honors section.
Academics
There are 129 teachers in this college against 150 posts. But this small number of teachers is not sufficient address such a huge number of students. The total number of departments of the college stands at 18. The departments are Accounting and Management department of Business faculty, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Zoology, Botany, Mathematics, Statistics of Science faculty and English, Social Science, Social Welfare, History, Islamic History, Political Science, Economics, Philosophy and Arabic of Arts faculty. At present, the college has 15,000 students and 147 teachers, of whom 36 are women.
The college always stands first in Comilla Board on the basis of good result in HSC. Meritorious students try to get admission in this college because of its name and fame. Students of the Honours section also do very well in examinations. Most of the time students of this college get top positions in exams held under the national university.[1]
Extracurricular activities
Students of the college regularly take part in debate. They won many prizes from BTV and others debate competitions. Bangladesh National Cadet Core (BNCC), Rover Scouts are also working at the college. Sandhani and Badhon, two leading blood donation organizations of the country, regularly organise blood donation programmes on the campus where students and teachers participate voluntarily.
Cultural programmes are also organized. Victoria College Chhatra Sangshad played a vital role during the 1952 language movement and the 1962 movement against Ayub Khan. It was also actively involved in the Liberation War of 1971.
Freedom fighters
The Memorial inside the campus commemorating the sacrifice of the freedom fighters who were students of the college.
Many students of Comilla Victoria College joined the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971. At least 334 students participated in the war of whom 35 sacrificed their lives for the noble cause. Major Rafiqul Islam, Saheed Khaza Nizam uddin got the recognition of "Bir Uttom" and Lieutenant Colonel Akbar Hossain, Saheed Abdul Momin got “Bir Protik” respectively who were the students of this college. Advocate Abdul Matin Khosru, Prof. Ali Asraf, AHM Mostafa Kamal (Lotus Kamal), AKM Baha Uddin Baher, who also participated in the war, were students of this college.[1] A memorial has been built inside the campus commemorating the sublime contribution of the these freedom fighters.
Housing
Comilla Victoria College has five dormitories: four for boys and one for girls. About 1,000 students reside in these dormitories.
Notable alumni
Comilla Victoria College has produced a large number of scholars, teachers, civil servants, physicians, engineers, politicians and social activists.[3]
- The famous Bangladeshi businessman, Abdul Awal Mintoo, passed HSC exam from this institute in 1966 in science group.[4] He was the former FBCCI[5] president of Bangladesh.
- Kazi Monirul Islam, M.D., a famous doctor of pediatrics in Bangladesh, passed HSC from this college in science in 1969.[6]
- Kazi Shamsul Hoque, an eminent journalist, editor of weekly Akhon Samoy, New York, USA passed B.A. from this college.
- Professor Fazlul Halim Chowdhury (1 August 1930–9 April 1996) was the longest-serving (1976–1983) vice-chancellor of Dhaka University. He passed HSC exam from this college in science in 1947.
- Professor Ghulam Subhan (1920-2006) was a legendary educationalist and scholar, former head of chemistry, Comilla Victoria College.
- Renowned TV presenter Hanif Sanket
- Famous rural development propagator and Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan was a principal of the college in the 1950s.
- Famous journalist ABM Musa.
- Whip of the national parliament and lawmaker Md. Mujibul Haque.
- AHM Mostafa Kamal (Lotus Kamal), chairman of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
- Scientist Abdul Jalil
- Mahera Khatun, first Bangladeshi chief of field operations, UNICEF Bangladesh. Currently, chief of field operations at UNICEF Sudan.
- Gaziur Rahman, renowned journalist
- Lawmaker advocate Abdul Matin
- Law Maker Barrister Syed Kamrul Islam Mohommod Salehuddin,Member Pakistan National Assembly(MNA,1970,Faridpur),Member Constituent Assembly(MCA,1972,Faridpur),member Bangladesh Parliament(MP,1973,Faridpur-Madhukhali-Boalmari,Alfadanga),Chairman-Bangladesh Justice Party(1981),Died in 1983,Home district_village:Bonomalidia,Modhukhali,Faridpur-7850.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Glorious 110 years of Comilla Victoria College". The Daily Star. http://www.thedailystar.net/campus/2009/12/03/camspotlight.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
- ^ Yousaf Nasim "Allama Mashriqi & Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan: Two Legends of Pakistan", p.348
- ^ a b "Comilla Victoria College". Banglapedia. http://www.banglapedia.org/httpdocs/HT/C_0311.HTM. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
- ^ Personal page
- ^ President: FBCCI, Official web site of Abdul Awal Mintoo
- ^ Personal page
External links
- Comilla Victoria College, Banglapedia article on Comilla Victoria College
- Glorious 110 years of Comilla Victoria College, The Daily Star article on comilla Victoria College
- Personal page
- Official web site
- Personal page
Colleges under National University of Bangladesh Azizul Huq College · Ananda Mohan College · Brajamohan College · Brajalal College · ILACS Khulna · B A F Shaheen College · Carmichael College · Chittagong College · Comilla Victoria College · Dhaka College · Dhaka City College · Dhaka Commerce College · Eden Girls' College, Bangladesh · Edward College · Gov. Debendra College (Manikganj) · Gov. Ghior College (Manikganj) · Gov. Doroggram College (Manikganj) · Gov. Mohila College (Manikganj) · Government Saadat College · Govt Titumir College · Government Physical Education College, Dhaka · Kabi Nazrul Government College · Kumudini College · Murari Chand College · New Government Degree College · Notre Dame College (Dhaka) · Rajshahi College · Victoria College, Comilla
Categories:- Colleges in Bangladesh
- Comilla District
- Academic institutions formerly affiliated with the University of Calcutta
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