FCC story
I should like to make a few comments about Dr. Ashraf Z. Khan's letter (DS, May 16) in response to Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed article on Faujdarhat Cadet College (DS, April 28).
Dr. Khan takes issue with the role of Ayub Khan in FCC's history and the mentioning of Col. Brown several times in the article. I take the counter view.
While it is not politically correct to give any credit to any former Pakistani these days, I am glad that Dr. Ahmed went for historical accuracy. If Ayub Khan personally selected the site of Faujdarhat Cadet College, selected the principal and was the primary force behind the college, I fail to see how the acknowledgement of these basic facts constitutes “the glorification of Ayub Khan.”
Bangladeshis are a generous people. They are especially appreciative of foreigners who help Bangladesh. I am happy that Dr. Ahmed heaped profuse praise on FCC's founding principal, the late New Zealander Lt. Col. William Maurice Brown, who apparently did wonderful things for the students of FCC. I am a little disappointed that Dr. Khan categorizes Dr. Ahmed's praise for Col. Brown as “a bit stretched” without giving his reasons.
Dr. Khan is right on one point. Col. Brown's students were patriots, 45 of whom fought in Bangladesh's liberation war and eight of whom became martyrs. Dr. Ahmed could have included the names of all the FCC freedom fighters and martyrs in his article to dispel the widely held notion that cadet colleges are for the “wealthy” only.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments