Shahid A.H.M Kamaruzzaman Government Degree College, Rajshahi

Shahid A.H.M Kamaruzzaman Government Degree College, Rajshahi is one of the leading colleges of Rajshahi city. It is situated in Uposhor New Market, Boalia, Rajshahi. It was established in 1994 as Housing Estate College. It is affiliated with National University. It is basically higher secondary level college but offers degree level courses as well. This college has been declared as government college by the Ministry of Education in 2015.

This college is playing an important role in the expansion of education in the northern region. It has a dedicated teaching and administrative staff. Moreover, the college carries the memory of Shahid A.H.M Kamaruzzanman, who was a great leader, a member of Mujibnagar government and very much associated with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. As a result, the Honorable Prime Minister of the government of the people’s republic of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 5-storey academic building in the college on 05 September 2013 and with that a new era of higher education begun in this region.

The college was established in 1994. Some creative, dynamic and enthusiastic group of people of this area came together with the dream of establishing a dynamic private college in Rajshahi metropolitan city. After that they started various activities of establishing the college with different initiatives. The first general meeting was held on 24 June 1994, with the aim of establishing the college. At the time of establishment, the college was named Housing Estate College. The journey of the college officially started at Uposhor primary school on 01 July 1994. After that it was shifted to its permanent campus at Uposhore, sector 1. The size of college campus is 51 decimals. Initially, a one story building with seven rooms was constructed at its own cost in its own campus.

The first president of the governing body of the college was advocate Zillure Rahman and general secretary was Abul Kalam Azad. People from every corner of Rajshahi city including educationists, wise politician, social workers had extended their helping hand of cooperation in establishing the college.

On the proposal and approval of the president and other members of the governing body of the college appointed Md Yunus Ali, retired professor of Rajshahi College, as the founder principal of the college on 08-07-1994. After this, the college authority appointed 29 teachers and some staffs on 27-09-1994 on merit basis. The education program of the college started with HSC level. Since its establishment, three major disciplines such as science, commerce and humanities were opened and teaching began as usual.

The first class of the college started with the fresher’s students of 1995-96 session with a grand inauguration ceremony. The college received preliminary approval for admission of students from Rajshahi Education Board dated 11-01- 1995. Later it was recognized by the Rajshahi Education Board on 24-08-1995. The teachers and staffs of the college were included in the MPO on 01-01-1997.

In a meeting of governing body in 1997, the governing body decided to change the name of Housing Estate College and rename as Shaheed A.H.M Kamaruzzaman College in 1997. It was decided to name the college after A.H.M Kamaruzzaman for his outstanding contribution in the war of independence and as he was very much associated with the father of nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

It should be noted that, Zinnatunnessa Talukdar, former Minister of State for Primary and Mass Education of the government of the people’s Republic of Bangladesh and Mohammed Nasim, former Minister of State for Home Affairs of the government of the people’s Republic of Bangladesh was present in that meeting. The foundation stone was laid by Zinnatunnessa Talukdar on 18 October 1997 and with this foundation stone, the new era of the college started.

It is noted that the A.H.M Khairuzzaman Liton, Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation, the eligible son of A.H.M Kamaruzzaman participated in the meeting of the governing body as enthusiastic member on 21-05-2000. A.H.M Khairuzzaman played an important role here and increased the dynamism and mobility of the college to a great extent. After the college became MPO, Professor Md. Yunus Ali retired from the post of principal and Md. Monirul Islam took charge as the new principal on 23-07-1998.

Later the governing body of the college took steps to convert the college into a degree college. So the teacher recruitment process for degree level started. 17 lecturers were appointed for teaching at degree level in different subjects. Subsequently on 31-07-2007, 6 subjects were affiliated by the National University for the session 2007-2008. During this period, a one stored administrative building with 7 rooms on a 5-storey foundation was built with the help of charitable persons of Rajshahi city.

On 07-09-2009 Honorable Member of Parliament of Rajshahi Sadar Constituency Mr. Fazle Hossain Badsha was nominated as president of the governing body of the college. Muhammad Abdus Sattar took charge as principal on 05-05-2010 and Mr. Abdul Khalek, Assistant Professor, Department of Accounting, of the same college was appointed as the vice principal. Principal Abdus Sattar played an outstanding role in changing the qualitative and quantitative standards of the college.

The president with his sincere and dynamic efforts created a new trend in the college through proper planning and effective coordination among teachers, students and staffs. As a result, the college got a new dimension and increased the acceptance and reputation to the society. During this period, on 05-05-2011, 5 more subjects were approved by the National University for the session 2010- 2011.

A vital issue related to college fund was pending for a long time. According to the National University act, 15 Lac Taka had to be shown as grant for establishing the new college. But this condition had not been fulfilled since the establishment of the college. There was a good news for the college that 15 Lac Taka of donation was waived by the Ministry of Education for the sincere and effective role of Fazle Hossain Badsha (MP) and the college being named after A.H.M Kamaruzzaman, one of the four national leaders.

Rajshahi Education Board has established HSC examination center in the college since 2012. Already BA, BSS and BBS degree courses with 15 subjects have started from 2012-2013 session. Currently there are about 2000 students in the college along with 55 teachers and 12 staffs. They are playing a vital role in the development of the college.

After a long journey, Fazle Hossain Badsha (MP) the president of the governing body proposed about the nationalization of the college. In view of this proposal, a unanimous decision was taken to take the necessary steps for nationalization.

With the sincere efforts of the president, memorandum no. (Letter no) 03.001.000.00.00.06. 2013-70, dated October 27, 2013 was sent from the Prime Minister’s office and the Hon’ble Prime Minister gave consent to nationalize the college. Finally, the college was nationalized on 08-10-2015.

Although the college had some problems before nationalization, but the college changed dramatically after nationalization. Specially the result of the college for last three years in Rajshahi Education Board is unprecedented. The overall environment of the college and quality of education has changed drastically. The dynamic leadership of the existing principal Professor Dr. Md. Elias Uddin has given a new look to the college. If this trend continues, the college will soon become one of the best colleges in Bangladesh.