Gregorian Alumni Club launched

A new social club named "Gregorian Alumni Club" was launched on Friday following an initiative of a group of alumni of St Gregory's High School, a century-old renowned educational institution in the capital.

Gregorian Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury, a former student of the school, formally inaugurated the club in Gulshan area by hoisting the club's flag, says a press release.

In his inaugural speech, Prof Jamilur Reza said the club would strengthen the bonding among the Gregorians of different generations and, in the process, would pass on the “torch of wisdom” to the future nation-builders.

"In addition to fellowship among our old acquaintances, this also gives us a platform for serving the society we all are indebted to," said Prof Jamilur, also chief adviser of the club.

Thousands of Gregorians are working across the globe in leading positions in respective fields.

"To encourage fellowship among them, and also with other alumni of notable academic institutions, the Gregorian Club has been formed with Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury at the helm," Gregorian Shahidullah Azim, president of the club, told the audience at the inaugural ceremony.

Among other alumni, Syed Marghub Murshed, Nasser Bakhtiar, Nurul Mazid Humaiun MP, Justice Syed Dastagir Hossain, Justice Shahidul Huq, Mahfuz Anam, Ambassador Alimul Huq, Dr Tanvir A Khan, Osman Ali Khan, Dr Saad Andalib, Abul Ahsan Chowdhury, Taqsem A Khan, Uzair Afzal, Akhter Matin Chowdhury, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed and the founding executive committee members of the Gregorian Club were present at the inauguration ceremony, which was conducted by Gregorian Syed Ahsan Habib.

The club has already accepted more than 200 Gregorians as its members from home and abroad. After the formal inauguration, the members and their spouses enjoyed the open house entertainment throughout the day with traditional foods from old Dhaka, said the release.

Founded by Father Gregory De Groote, a Belgian Benedictine priest, in 1882 at Luxmibazar of old Dhaka, the school has been producing nation builders for more than 135 years now and setting many historical records in education and humanitarian activities. It was named after Pope Gregory I (540–604).

Bangladesh's first Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, former President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, renowned jurist Dr Kamal Hossain, eminent educationist Prof Serajul Islam Choudhury, noted journalist Ahmedul Kabir, and famous music exponent Mustafa Zaman Abbasi are among the luminaries who went to the school.