<i>Star</i> gives precious gifts to CU

Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam, third from right, hands over a wooden replica of a Harikela period coin to Vice Chancellor of Chittagong University Prof Anwarul Azim Arif as part of handing over to CU Museum some rare exhibits featuring Chittagong yesterday. CU Museum Director Dr Emran Hossain, far left, CU Pro-VC Dr Md Alauddin, second from right, and historian Dr Shamsul Hossain, far right, were also present.Photo: STAR

The Daily Star authorities handed over some rare exhibits, featuring Chittagong in different ages ranging from prehistoric period to British colonial era, to Chittagong University Museum yesterday.
The Daily Star collected the museum pieces, including photographs and artworks, from an exhibition the English newspaper organised as part of its "Odommo Chattagram" festival in March and April.
The exhibits include 77 photographs, an artwork depicting the lifestyle of Chittagong people in pre-historic era, a replica of a Mughal tomb, a painting on the 1666 battle of Karnaphuli between Mughals and Arakans, and a map on the communication system of Chittagong in Sultanate and Mughal periods.
Of the photographs, 18 are of various types of copper plates, vases and coins of Harikela period (7th to 14th century), 20 of tombs and mosques, among other things, of the Sultanate era, 25 of mosques, tombs and ruins of different structures of Mughal period, and 14 of different structures of colonial period.
Vice Chancellor of CU Prof Anwarul Azim Arif expressed his gratitude to The Daily Star for handing over the historic objects to CU Museum.
“The wealth we have got today [yesterday] is very rare,” he said. “A visitor will come to know about the whole Chittagong roaming in one room.”
Prof Emran Hossain, director of the museum, also dean of the arts faculty, said it was the only museum in the county owned by a university.
Terming CU Museum a unique institution, Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Md Alauddin said he hoped that the students of CU and visitors would know a lot about the history and heritage of Chittagong through the newly added exhibits.
Speaking on the occasion, Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam said universities played a central role for the development of a nation. These are not merely institutions to provide certificates but to lead a nation in the right direction, he said.
Universities have played vital roles in countries, which are developed today, he said, adding that solution to a nation's all key problems came from universities.
Mahfuz Anam said universities should be the breeding place for intellectual leadership of the country and urged students to utilise their time in university properly.
Former deputy curator of CU Museum Dr Shamsul Hossain urged all to preserve the history, heritage and relics of the country.
The handover ceremony was held in the university's business administration faculty auditorium. Following the programme, Mahfuz Anam inaugurated an exhibition of the exhibits in CU Museum.
A cultural programme also followed the handover ceremony.