Does anyone ever leave DU?
The central playground of Dhaka University almost seemed like it accommodated the whole campus on that one field yesterday.
Along with replicas of Aparajeyo Bangla, Curzon Hall, Raju Sculpture and almost all the historical establishments of the university, the playground area also portrayed the hundred-year journey of the university with paintings put up inside a tent.
This attracted a sizeable crowd, with some saying it was the biggest ever gathering seen in recent days, as thousands of alumni gathered there to spend the entire day with their fellows, reminiscing the memories they created at the university.
All this was part of the reunion organised by Dhaka University Alumni Association (DUAA), marking the university's 100 years.
Though originally slated for last year, the reunion was postponed due to the pandemic.
But this delay only created anticipation for the event, and when it was finally held yesterday, its attendees emitted a festive aura across the campus.
They were seen singing their hearts out, dancing and taking photographs and selfies.
M Sohrab Alam was a student of DU during the '80s. He was there yesterday with his family. "In our time, there were no digital devices. We lived through lots of happy moments, but couldn't capture them," said Sohrab, who was seen taking as many photos as he could.
Mashiur Rahman was a student of finance department back in 1984-85. "I've been living in Canada since 1992. There's no way I would miss the chance to meet my friends after so many years! And I did meet a lot of them, and we had so much fun today," he told this correspondent.
"Comparing DU with other universities will always be different. Not only is it a university for education, research and publication, but it has also played a seminal role in creating a country, a state, a nation," said Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury while chairing a discussion on the university and its alumni.
Meanwhile, the alumni association chose 100 posthumous alumni in 16 categories to honour, which includes former VCs, politicians, educationists, martyrs of the Language Movement, intellectuals martyred during the Liberation War, philosophers, cultural activists, poets, writers, journalists and more.
The day-long programme was inaugurated at 10:00am with the national anthem, hoisting the flag, and cultural presentations.
The oldest alumni to join the programme, 92-year-old Matiul Islam, served as the chief guest. Matiul was a Pakistan-era government employee who was forced to retire by then President Yahya Khan regime with different false corruption charges, who later re-joined the government as the first finance secretary.
"To join as chief guest here is the greatest reward I have achieved in my journey," he said.
Conducted by DUAA secretary general Ranjan Karmaker, the programme was presided over by its president AK Azad.
Among others, Prime Minister's adviser Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Education Minister Dipu Moni, former minister Matia Chowdhury, politician Inam Ahmed Chowdhury, educationist Hamida Akhtar Begum, cultural personality Ramendu Majumder joined the programme.
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