Festivity, nostalgia for good old days mark CU day

17 December 2009, 17:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Ctg

Different departments of Chittagong University display their achievements in different fields at makeshift stalls, below, Dr Alauddin Ahmed, education advisor to the prime minister, cuts a cake marking the Chittagong University Day on the campus yesterday while Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr Afsarul Amin, Chief whip Abdus Shahid and Chittagong City Corporation Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury look on. Photo: STAR

Chittagong University Day was observed yesterday with a vow to contribute more to nation building activities. Hundreds of former students as well as teachers in a festive mood participated in the daylong programme that marked the 43rd anniversary of the university, which was set up in 1966. Dr Alauddin Ahmed, adviser to the prime minister on education, inaugurated the daylong programme by opening a hanging bridge built over the canal between social science and arts faculties and releasing balloons and pigeons at around 11:30am. Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr Afsarul Ameen, Chief Whip Abdus Shahid and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury were also present as special guests. Addressing the function Dr Afsarul Ameen lauded the role of Chittagong University in the country's Liberation War, democratic movements and nation building activities. The minister called for an allocation of Tk 25 crore for infrastructural development of the university in the current fiscal year. Dr Alauddin Ahmed in his speech observed that the university nestled in hillocks and greenery can be turned into a tourist spot as well. The adviser assured the authorities of all-out support of the government for development of the university. Chief Whip Abdus Shahid and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury urged the students to build themselves as worthy citizens of the country and uphold the image of the university. CU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Abu Yusuf in his speech sought cooperation of all in maintaining congenial academic atmosphere on the campus. He urged the students to boycott those who try to disturb the academic atmosphere. The former students and teachers bathed in nostalgia while recalling memories and participating in discussion. The day's programmes were followed by a cultural event where artistes of the university performed with popular singers Kanak Chapa and Subir Nandy. Traditional dance-drama 'Malka Banu' in local (Chittagonian) dialect, a football-match of the former students, prize giving of an essay competition and a reception to the university cricket team that became the first runner-up in the Second Asian Inter-university Cricket Invitational Tournament-2009 held recently in Malaysia also featured in the day's programmes.