DU marks 96th founding anniversary

Dhaka University (DU) today celebrated DU Day amid much enthusiasm, festivity and cheerful manner with the theme “Higher Education for Innovation and Development” to mark its 96th founding anniversary.

Marking the day, the entire campus wore a festive look and different buildings of the university and dormitories were decorated with colourful lights, graffiti, festoons and balloons.

The day's programme began at 10:00am with hoisting the national flag and university flag at the Mall Chattar on the campus.

DU Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique inaugurated the daylong programme releasing pigeons and balloons.

Greeting people from all walks of life on the occasion of the university's founding anniversary, he paid glowing homage to former student of the university and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Later, a colourful procession led by VC Arefin Siddique was brought out from the Mall Chattar which ended at the Aparajeyo Bangla premises after parading different streets on the campus.

DU teachers, senate and syndicate members, officers and employees and students joined the rally.

Speaking at the occasion, Prof Siddique recalled the martyrs of Language Movement in 1952, Liberation War in 1971 and all democratic movements against autocracy and the victims of all militant attacks across the world, including the victims of Holey Artisan café, attack in Dhaka last year with due respect.

He said Dhaka University has been playing a vital role in all sectors of the country, including in the Language Movement, Liberation War and education and cultural movements since its inception.

"Building a nation with moral values is a great challenge this time," the VC added, saying that DU will play a crucial role to overcome this challenge in future.

Prof Siddique urged the students to become worthy citizen being inspired with moral values accompanied by acquiring higher education.

He underscored the need for building a candid nation to materialise

Bangabandhu's dream of transforming the country to 'Sonar-Bangla'.

DU Pro Vice-Chancellor (academic) Professor Dr Nasrin Ahmad and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (administration) Professor Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman and Treasurer Professor Kamal Uddin, among others, were present at the function.

Besides, DU central library staged an exhibition on rare manuscript while Biomedical Physics and Technology Department displayed its innovations of medical technology equipment and research at Curzon Hall on the campus.

Different faculties, departments and halls also organised various programmes.

DU is the oldest university of the country established in 1921. It was called the "Oxford of the East" during its early years. Today, it is the largest public university in the country having capacity of more than 37,018 students and 1992 faculties.