The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

A two-day reunion of the present and former students of Rangpur Carmichael University College (RCUC) turned the campus here into a festive place.

The celebrations ended on May 3 last through different colourful programmes including discussions and cultural functions. Hundreds of the present and former students of the reputed educational institution in the country's northern region took part in the RCUC reunion progrmme lively in so many ways.

Many of them came with their spouses as well as children, grandchildren and friends to share the happy occasion that took them down the memory lane of the sweet past and it was a reunion with a difference for all of them.

The celebration gave the whole city a festive mood on the first day on Friday morning, when a huge colourful rally participated by the present and former students of the RCUC paraded the streets of the city to instill a renewed zeal for education. The highlights of the two-day programmes were colourful processions in the city. Added attraction was participation of bullock-driven carts, buffalo-driven carts and horse-driven carts rally. Speeches by the former students recalling their golden days in RCUC, drew many people to see or hear the proceedings of the past and the present.

Among the former students were former President Alhaj Hussein Muhammad Ershad and many prominent Bangladeshis, based in Bangladesh as well as abroad.

"Unite Us with All and Make Our Friends Free," the motto of the reunion gave a fresh boost to the awareness for education in this part of the country where pioneer of women renaissance in the sub-continent Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain was born.

Former popular teacher of RCUC, renowned educationist and Sada Moner Manush Polan Sarker attended the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest and formally inaugurated the programme by hoisting the National Flag with former Principal of the institution Prof Mozammel Haque.

A number of living valiant freedom fighters and language movement veterans, former MPs, senior government officials and renowned businessmen, all former students of the RCUC also took part in the reunion programme.

Hussain Muhammad Ershad, former MP Golam Mohammad Kader (JP), former MP of Jamaat-e-Islami from Sundarganj constituency Abdul Aziz, former MP Abdur Razzaque (AL), former VP of RCUC Alauddin Mian, Principal of RCUC Deep Kendra Nath Das, Secretary of district unit of Jamaat Mahbubur Rahman Belal, DC, SP, addressed.

Meanwhile, another group of former RCUC students led by veteran Freedom Fighter, language movement veteran and Presidium Member of Ganotantri Party Mohammad Afzal, BSD leader Abdul Kuddus, Biplob Prasad, boycotted the reunion and organised a press conference here today protesting presence of the Razakars and Soirachars in the reunion ceremony.