Teachers, students, officials, and employees of Rajshahi University celebrated the university鈥檚 71st founding anniversary on Saturday.
This year, however, the anniversary was celebrated on a small scale as the university teacher association boycotted it due to its ongoing strike for the cancellation of the universal pension scheme made mandatory for new recruits.
At 10:05am, RU vice-chancellor professor Golam Sabbir Sattar inaugurated the day鈥檚 events in front of the university鈥檚 Shahid Syed Nazrul Islam Administration Building by hoisting the national and the university flags, and releasing pigeons and balloons.
Later, the vice-chancellor unveiled a souvenir published on the occasion of the university鈥檚 71st founding anniversary and planted a tree beside the university鈥檚 Shahid Tajuddin Ahmad Senate Building.
A colourful procession with banners and festoons led by the vice-chancellor was also brought out on the campus that paraded main roads on the campus.
In his speech, Golam Sabbir Sattar said that the history of Rajshahi University was more unique than any university in Bangladesh.
鈥楾his university was established for the purpose of imparting knowledge. But we have deviated a lot from our original work. We will have to take the university to the core of our hearts and restore its dignity through concerted efforts,鈥� he said.
Among others, pro-vice-chancellors professor Sultan-Ul-Islam and professor M Humayun Kabir, treasurer professor Obaidur Rahman Pramanik, registrar professor Tariqul Hasan, proctor professor Asabul Haque, student adviser professor Jahangir Alam, and public relations office administrator professor Pranab Kumar Panday were present at the event.
Rajshahi University started its journey with only six departments, 20 professors and 161 students on this day in 1953. At present, the university has 12 faculties, 59 departments, 6 institutes, over 1200 teachers and 30,000 students, 17 residence halls and 5 higher research bureaus and centres.
