History of the University of Dhaka


The University of Dhaka was established in 1921 as the first university in East Bengal. Following demands from Nawab Sir Khwaja Salimullah Bahadur and others, Viceroy Lord Hardinge proposed on 2 February 1912, that a new university should be established in this partition of Bengal.
, where the science faculty of University of Dhaka was established in 1921.

Introduction

The University was established as compensation for the annulment of the 1905 Partition of Bengal. The partition had established East Bengal and Assam as a separate province, with Dhaka as its capital. However, the partition was abolished in 1911. In 1913, public opinion was solicited before the university scheme was given its final shape, and the Secretary of State approved it in December 1913. The first vice-chancellor of the university was Philip Joseph Hartog, who had been academic registrar of the University of London for 17 years.

Foundation and early days

Established in 1921, under the Dacca University Act 1920 of the Indian Legislative Council, the university is modelled after British universities. Academic activities started on 1 July 1921, with three faculties: Arts, Science, and Law. Classes were taught in 12 Departments: Sanskrit and Bengali, English, Education, History, Arabic and Islamic Studies, Persian and Urdu, Philosophy, Economics and Politics, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Law. Initially there were three dormitories for students: Salimullah Muslim Hall, Dacca Hall and Jagannath Hall.

Establishment and the British era

The university continued to grow under the direction of leaders including Harry Langley, A. F. Rahman, R. C. Majumdar, and Mahmud Hussain. Under Vice-Chancellor Hussain, the University consolidated its fundamental focus on academics. It also made national headlines when he extended an invitation to then-President of Pakistan, Ayub Khan, who declined citing 'security reasons'. This was the first of many subsequent refusals from high-ranking officials to visit East Pakistan.

Students from 1921 to 1948

There were few students in the early years of the University of Dhaka. Enrollment in the first few years is shown in the table below:
SessionNumber of Muslim studentsNumber of total students
1929–304271300
1930–313991300
1930–341027
1934–35933
1937–385951527
1939–406731527
1940–416001633
1945–461000
1946–471092
1947–481693

in Jagannath Hall
for a magazine of Jagannath Hall

University of Dhaka in the Liberation war (1970s)

Teachers who were killed in 1971

Students and teachers of the University of Dhaka played a vital role in the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh. The Ordinance of 1961 was annulled and substituted by the Dacca University Order of 1973., The new Order restored autonomy, and provided a democratic atmosphere for the teachers and students where they could engage freely in academic and intellectual pursuits.
Teachers at the University of Dhaka who were killed during the liberation war include:
Name of TeacherInstitution-
Dr. Mohammad MortuzaChief medical officer of the university-
Giasuddin AhmedUniversity of Dhaka-
Dr. ANM MuniruzzamanUniversity of Dhaka-
Dr. Jyotirmoy Guha ThakurtaUniversity of Dhaka-
AN Munir ChowdhuryUniversity of Dhaka-
Mofazzal Haider ChowdhuryUniversity of Dhaka-
Dr. Abul KhairUniversity of Dhaka-
Dr. Serajul Hoque KhanUniversity of Dhaka-
Rashidul HasanUniversity of Dhaka-
Anwar PashaUniversity of Dhaka-
Dr. GC DevUniversity of Dhaka-
Dr. Fazlur RahmanUniversity of Dhaka-
Dr. Faizul MohiUniversity of Dhaka-
Abdul MuktadirUniversity of Dhaka-
Sarafat AliUniversity of Dhaka-
Sadat AliUniversity of Dhaka-
AR Khan KhadimUniversity of Dhaka-
Santosh C BhattacharyaUniversity of Dhaka-
Mohammad SadeqUniversity Laboratory School-
Anudippayan BhattachariyaUniversity of Dhaka