2008 Angling season

The angling season started on the 15th of August in the Nawab Bari Talab. Here are the rules in effect drafted by the pond committee.

 

 

Picture courtesy Mohammed Talha

Nawab Bari Primary Health care completes 1st year with Milad

On the first anniversary of the Nawab Bari Primary Health care, its members organized a Milad Mehfil at the Nawab Bari Jame Masjid .The Milad was attended by around 120 people.

 

Khwaja Mohammad Yousuf Jamal

 

Names of establishments

By Mizanur Rahman, Dhaka 

 

There should never be any resentment if a private establishment is installed and named whatever its owner thinks suitable. But the situation is different when an establishment is created by the state. In such a case we would always anticipate that it will be named after those who are widely respected by people. For example, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib, Nawab Salimullah, Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Sher-e-Bangla etc.

I, therefore, propose to the caretaker government to immediately change the names of institutions and establishments which smack of party politics.

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/05/30/d705301107107.htm

From Ahsanullah Engineering College (AEC) to  BUET

By Anas Khwaja, NY

Name Change in 1962: In order to create facilities for postgraduate studies and research, Ahsanullah Engineering College was upgraded to the status of a University on the 1st of June 1962 and was named East Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology (EPUET). In 1971, the university was renamed as the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

Background History: Engineering education The history of engineering education in Bangladesh dates back to 1876 when the Dhaka Survey School was founded at Nalgola (west of Salimullah Medical College) in a rented building to train surveyors for the government of Bengal in British India. From 1897 it started to offer sub-overseer course.

On the 22^nd of July 1902 Sir John Woodburn Lt Gov of Bengal laid cornerstone of Engineering School. In order to facilitate and promote education of the Muslims, Nawab Khwaja Salimullah donated 1.12 lac Rupees in 1902 for the upgrading, development and expansion of this institution that had been promised by his father Nawab Khwaja Ahsanullah.Starting from 1905, a three-year overseer course in area of Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering was offered in the school.

 

In 1906 the school building was constructed at government initiative near the present Shahidullah Hall of Dhaka University. Even a few years ago a tall chimney that existed at this location used to bear testimony to this institution. In recognition of the generous financial contribution from Nawab Salimullah, it was named Ahsanullah Engineering School (AES) in 1908, after his father Khawja Ahsanullah. It moved to its present premises in 1912 or in 1920 (date varies). Initially the school was affiliated with Dhaka College and later it was brought under the Director of Public Instruction. A.S.E. was one of the top rated engineering schools in the British India.

 

After World War II the government took up large-scale plans for industrial development in Bengal. A government appointed committee made recommendations for establishing an Engineering College at Dhaka. They also recommended that the Ahsanullah Engineering School should be shifted to the site of the Plasssey Barracks. 

In August 1947, the School was upgraded to Ahsanullah Engineering College as a Faculty of Engineering under the University of Dhaka, offering four-year bachelor’s courses in Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering and finally declared a full fledged university in 1962 with a new name -EPUET.

Conclusion: What triggered the authority to drop Nawab Ahsanullah’s name from EPUET or BUET.  What purpose did the new name serve at that time? Whatever the ambiguous reason was, the name change surely undermines the legacy and the contribution of the Dhaka Nawab Family. In the light of the case mentioned below I would like to add that it is never late to fight to restore the well deserve name back.

“The Dhaka High Court in May 26 2004 ordered the government and the Dhaka University authorities to add the word “Muslim” with the name “Salimullah Hall” of the University of Dhaka.The order came upon a writ petition filed by Rakib Uddin Ahmed, a former student of Salimullah Hall, challenging the decision of Dhaka University authorities to pen through word “Muslim” from the name “Salimullah Muslim Hall”.A division bench of the High Court comprising Justice Joinul Abedin and Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader also declared illegal the decision taken by the Dhaka University authorities to strike off the word “Muslim”. – Independent, 26 May”

Anika weds Tanvir

Syeda Nabila (Anika) (d/o Aleya Begum-Goli & Syed Altaf Hossain) of Toronto got married to Tanvir Rahman (son of Md Gholam Rahman) of 1211 College St Toronto, ON. 

 

The weeding ceremony was held on August 30th 2007 at New Haandi 2000 Restaurant 1401, Gerrard Street East, Toronto, ON.

Anika is the grand daughter of Khwaja Ashraf Alam & Sogra Begum (d/o K.M.Mosharraf). Tanvir is a corporal in the Canadian Army. Congratulation and best wishes to the newlywed couple.

Celebrating 150 years of Sir Salimullah Medical College

Md Rajib Hossain

     If you roam around the Mitford Hospital area of the old part of Dhaka in recent days, you will notice numerous festoons and banners all around informing you about the glorious 150 years of Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC) and Mitford Hospital. This magnificent institute stepped into150 years on 1st May 2008 (1858-2008). It’s the oldest hospital in the country and also one of the earliest hospitals in this subcontinent from where the evolution of medical education started. …….

    

     From the inception, the hospital was under the administration of a board accountable to Dhaka Municipality. Another female ward was added to the hospital in 1882 with the generous donations from Nawab Khwaja Ahsanullah of Dhaka and Raja Rajendra Narayan Roy of Bhawal. Nawab Ahsanullah also donated Rs 50,000 to set up Lady Dufferin Hospital within the same compound in 1888-89….. It got the recognition of a first grade hospital in 1917……..

    

     A medical school was set up on 15th June, 1875 on the compound attached to the hospital to meet the demand of medical education.…A total number of 384 students got admitted in the school in the first batch. They got admitted for a course leading to a diploma of LMF (Licentiate of Medical Faculty) offered by the State Medical Faculty.The LMF course was abandoned in 1957. Medical school was converted to Medical College in 1962 and then it was named “Sir Sallimullah Medical College” (SSMC) after the name of Nawab Sir Salimullah. …….

    

     Renowned urban historian Dr Sharif Uddin Ahmed who is also the author of the book ‘Mitford Hospital and Dhaka Medical School: History and Heritage, 1858-1947′ has told Star Campus about the historical background of the institution. He said that ‘Mitford Hospital is not merely a hospital but also a part of our history. It was established with the goal of flourishing medical education in East Bengal and set up an international health research center to provide better healthcare services to our people. But the goal hasn’t been fulfilled properly. Particularly the dirty environment of the hospital makes me sad and it should be improved immediately. He urged the authorities concerned to preserve the archeological building infrastructure and ramp up their efforts to make the hospital as an icon of ideal public hospital.’

   RELATED WEBSITES  www.ssmcalumni.org    www.ssmc.edu

   The article in Detail http://www.thedailystar.net/campus/2008/05/02/camspotlight.htm

Follow good examples

I heard from reliable elders that during the 1943 Bengal famine, Dhaka Nawab families (Ahsan Manzil-based 2nd family and Armanitola-based 3rd family) had changed their eating habits: whole-grain chapati (servants’ food) was included and ‘faan’ (rice-starch/’maar’) was not spared. This is one of the reasons why people had confidence in them and they were the leaders of their times.

Why not those who run the government and their families queue up at the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR)-run fair price shops to buy rice – even as a symbolic gesture?

M. Emad, Oxford, UK

Picture of the month: Tomtom of Old Dhaka

Horse-drawn carriage, popularly known as Tomtom in old Dhaka, has been installed on a road island near Dhaka Sheraton hotel. The sculpture that reminds the period of the Nawab rule was made by Mrinal Haque. Mrinal said “TTo celebrate the 400th anniversary of historical town Dhaka the sculpture  titled Rajoshik , represents Nawab Salimullah and his family on a horse carriagehe.” The sculpture was inaugurated on the Victory Day. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

Avir weds Opu

The wedding ceremony of Shabnaz Khatun (Avir) and Rajibul Anam (Opu) was held on the 29^th of May 2008 at Dhaka. The reception was held a day after on the 30^th of May 2008.

 

Opu is son of Mr. Rafiqul Anam of house # 40 road # 25 of Gulshan -1. Avir is daughter of Khwaja Giasuddin (Janu Mia) & Tayaba Khatun of 15/1 Ahansanullah Road, Nawab Bari Dhaka. 

Let us congratulate the newlyweds.

 

Avir on the family tree:

http://gupshup1.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=gupshup1&view=50&pid=2364&rand=198450973

In Retrospect Dhakaiyyas : Losing Their Traditions

Syed Maqsud Jamil

The Daily Star Aug 26 2005

 

………… A city is known by its heritage. For instance, Kolkata is known for its cosmopolitan character, New York is a melting pot, London is multi-racial and Paris is quintessentially French. Dhaka today is a spreading city of 13 million people. And the heritage of Dhaka comprises the Dhakaiyyas. Sadly though, the number of original inhabitants of Dhaka or the Dhakaiyyas is shrinking. The Dhakaiyyas are fast blending into the uni-culture of a growing megacity. They are finding their lifestyle, dialect, ceremonies and cultural practices outmoded and encumbering in the vastness of this uniculture. The Dhakaiyyas are adjusting to the changes and Dhaka is shedding a rich part of its heritage. ………..

 

The Dhakaiyyas spoke two languages, a local dialect of Bangla and a kind of Urdu far from being Urdu. Those speaking Bangla jestingly called the Urdu speaking ones as ‘Bazairas’ or the outsiders. On the other hand the Urdu speaking ones called the Bangla speaking Dhakaiyyas ‘Kuttis’, possibly referring to their past role as farmhands in threshing the paddies. But with the general exception of the Nawab family the language of education and written communication for the Dhakaiyyas was all along Bangla both for the Bazairas and the Kuttis. Unfortunately, those speaking a local dialect of Urdu fell into an awkward state of being identified with the Biharis or Non-Bengalis after the birth of Bangladesh. It was socially a compromising situation for them. And they as a matter of convenience made every effort in staying clear of this stigma by abandoning Urdu and using Bangla as the language of the house. Now they speak this language casually and in reliving the camaraderie of the past.

 

In the Nawab family and in the households speaking the local dialect of Urdu one can recall the mirthful range of chorus songs deriding the entire set of members of the bridegroom’s family starting from the father-in-law to the youngest sister-in-law. Thus the ladies of the bride’s family welcomed them at the ‘Mehendi’ or ‘Mangni’ (engagement) ceremonies. It endowed the marriage ceremony with a festive liveliness. I wonder whether the remnants of the Nawab family are carrying on the custom, I believe not. Ceremonies used to bring out the best part of the playfulness of the Dhakaiyyas. In case of the Nawabs and the ‘Sukhbases’ (those leading a life of ease) it displayed an infectious warmth and great love for life…………….

 

The most valuable resource of a society or community is its people. By that measure Dhaka has suffered a loss of a kind with the Dhakaiyyas losing most of their customs and culture. In spite of it they are a special class of people when it comes to the heritage of Dhaka. They deserve our regard for their adaptability in adjusting to the changes and demands of time. For me and for many of my kind who lived the time cannot but feel a bit of nostalgia for those days. We know how lively and invigorating the ways of the Dhakaiyyas were because we spent a blissful time of our lives in their midst. It is natural that the Dhakaiyyas and Dhaka are treasures in our fondest recollections. They just cannot fade away. Any recollection of Dhaka will have Dhakaiyyas in the spotlight.

http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2005/08/04/retro.htm

Interview oh Khwaja Kamel by RTV

Khwaja Kamel son of Khwaja Abdul Razzak (Pini Mia) is a grass root political activist since his early childhood.

He is famous for arranging Fateha every year on Nawab Sir Salimullah’s birthday. He invites political leaders from Muslim League and dignitaries including the Pakistani consul general in Begum Bazar.

In this video he is caught in Mohd Talha’s camera while speaking to RTV journalist.