বুধবার, ৫ নভেম্বর, ২০০৮

Murari Chand College(M.C College)

Murari Chand College(Bengali: মুরারি চাঁদ কলেজ) (usually referred as M C College), was the first college of Sylhet.It was established in 1892.Since then it has been playing important role in the educational, cultural, political sphere of greater Sylhet.
History
M C College was established in 1892 by a local noble person called Raja Girish Chandra Roy. The college was named after his maternal grandfather Murari Chand. It was located beside the present Raja G C School. At the beginning it was a proprietary college. Raja himself used to fund the expenses of the college. From 1892 to 1908 (16 years) until the death of the Raja it remained proprietary.
But in 1908 right after the death of the Raja the college had to apply for government help. Then it become an 'aided' college. For four years it remained 'aided'.
In 1912 the college become fully government administered and was considered as an affiliated college of the University of Calcutta.
In 1925 the college moved to its current campus at Thackarey Hills (now Tilagarh).
In 1942 the Golden Jubilee of the college was observed by the publishing of the Murari Chand College Golden Jubilee Volume.
Academics
Departments
There are currently 13 departments at M C College1.Bangla2.Botany3.Chemistry4.Economics5.English6.History7.History of Islam8.Mathematics9.Philosophy10.Physics11.Political Science12.Psychology13.Zoology
Teachers
Infrastructure
Academic Buildings
Presently there are nine academic buildings in the college.They are consist of classrooms, library, department offices etc. and mainly used to conduct classes.Almost all of the departments have their own academic buildings except a few.
Library
The central library of the college is one of the oldest libraries in the region.It houses a huge number of volumes many of them are rare.The library is widely used by researchers.
Hostel
There are two individual hostels for boys and girls which provide accommodation for the students from distant places.The boys hostel consists of six blocks.
Cultural Activities
Every year M C College organizes the celebration of Pahela Baishakh (Bangla New Year). People of all class and profession take part in the procession which makes it one of the most colourful event of the day.
Notable Alumni
Neehar Ranjan Roy famous historian.[1]
Abu Taher famous freedom fighter and leftist politician.
M Altaf Hossain former editor of Dawn.[2]
Saifur Rahman former finance minister of Bangladesh.

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology,(Bengali: শাহজালাল বিজ্ঞান ও প্রযুক্তি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় Shah-jalal Bigyan O Projukti Bishshobiddalôe) or commonly known with its initials SUST, is a state-supported science and tecnology university located in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Established in 1987, it is the first science and technology university in Bangladesh.[1][2] It is one of the most popular universities in bangladesh according to the the 4icu.org[3] The university started its academic programme from 14 February, 1991 with three departments: physics, chemistry and economics. The campus is located in Kumargaon, approximately five kilometers away from Sylhet.
The university introduced the integrated honours course for the first time in Bangladesh[2] and recently it has introduced the semester system from the 1996-97 session. Every year the existing systems are improving, new departments are going to be opened. According to the masterplan for this university ,which states that within a few years Shahjalal University of Science and Technology will be one of the finest institutions of this country.[4]The first convocation of SUST was held on the 29th April, 1998 and the second convocation of the university was held on the 6th December, 2007.
Schools and Departments
SUST has 23 departments under seven faculties. The faculties are :
School of Agriculture and Mineral Sciences
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science[1]
School of Management and Business Administration
Department of Business Administration
School of Medical Sciences
Sylhet Osmani Medical College
Jalalabad Ragib-Rabeya Medical College
North-East Medical College
Sylhet Women's Medical College
Durre Samad Rahman Women's Red Crescent Medical College
School of Life Sciences
Department of Biotechnology
Department of Genetics
School of Physical Sciences
Department of Chemistry
Department of Mathematics
Department of Physics
Department of Statistics[2]
School of Applied Sciences & Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering and Polymer Science[3]
Department of Computer Science and Engineering[4]
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department of Industrial and Production Engineering
Department of Petroleum & Georesources Engineering[5]
Department of Tea Technology
Department of Architecture
School of Social Sciences.
Department of Anthropology
Department of Economics
Department of Political Studies
Department of Public Administration
Department of Social Work
Department of Sociology
Department of English[6]
Bengali Language.
Institute
The university has one newly established affiliated college, named: Sylhet Engineering College. Sylhet Engineering College consists of three departments:
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.
There are 3 other affiliated medical colleges under the School of Medical Science.
The university campus is famous for its natural beauty. Many visitors to Sylhet visit the "Shahid Minar" (Martyr's Memorial) of the university. The memorial stands on the top of a small hill and is surrounded by trees. Different cultural organizations arrange programs on the premises, and on local and national occasions.
The first ever Bangladesh Mathematics Olympiad was held in Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in 2004.[6]
Students of SUST consistently take a good number of places in the country's national civil service examinations. Many alumni can be found doing graduate studies and researches at renowned universities around the world.
Prominent teachers/lecturers there include the renowned Bangladeshi writer and scientist, Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, who is a professor of Computer Science and Engineering as well as the Head of the dept.
Academics
SUST mainly enrolls undergraduate and graduate students.Students who want to get admission into SUST need to pass the admission test which is highly competitive.Admission test are arranged by the specific schools under the authority of admission council.In recent years,number of applicants for each seat has been stood at 12. SUST also welcomes foreign students.There is a significant number of foreign students especially from Nepal.There are some students in its affiliated medical college from Indian Kashmir.
Classes
SUST has an extensive core curriculum required of all undergraduates.SUST adopted American course credit systems for all departments prior to most of the universities in Bangladesh.The syllabus are always updated frequently to maintain the global standard of education. CSE Society also organizes several workshops for the CSE students of this country.
Research
Some national and international Seminar and conferences on academic matters and scientific researches are held in this university. Recently the international conference on waste water treatment was held in SUST which was hosted by the Department of Chemical Engineering and Polymer Science. The university launches "Online Journals" access facility to the teachers recently.
Life at SUST
Housing
Ladies Hall
Currently there are 3 halls of residence.These three halls can accommodate about 1600 students.
Halls of Residence
Shah Poran hall
The New Hall
The Ladies Hall
There are also well decorated teacher's houses for the faculty members of SUST.
Activities
Side by side with the regular academic affairs, the students participate in different extracurricular activities. The University Student's union and other cultural organizations arrange cultural programmes and competitions. As of now, there are about 29 organization of different types which are registered by the university authority. ShahJalal University of Science & Technology Debating Club(SUST Debating Club /SDC) is one of the prominent debating clubs of Sylhet as well as Bangladesh.SDC is the first club of SUST which was established in 1992.SUST Debating Club usually arranges the inter-department debate competition, the winners of which again take part in the national and inter-university debate competition.SUST Debating Club arranges workshop on debate , weekly study circle etc. The Photographers Association and the Film Societies hold photo exhibitions and film shows. Other organizations like the Science Club, Rovar-scout Club etc. are visible on the campus with their sociocultural activities throughout the year. SUST has many recognized clubs and organizations which are mainly operated by students and teachers always appreciate and help the students. There also some rock bandgroups in SUST."RIM" is one of them."RIM" organize musical concert in SUST campus frequently."NONGAR" is another rock bandgroup.Members of "NONGAR" proud to introduce them as Nongarian.
Concert's Logo of Nongar
There are also some organizations which are operated by individual dipartment's students. "CSE Society" is one of the oldest amongst these.The Students and Teachers of Chemical Engineering and Polymer Science Department formed CEP Fraternity [7]
There is a cultural club named "SHIKORH" which is the first and most popular organization in SUST. "SHIKORH" deals with the bengali culture in the university. It has four departments. Music, Drama, Art, Literature. "SHIKORH" is the most performed organization in SUST. All the national programmes are organized by "SHIKORH" along with other organizations. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal is the Chief Advisor of "SHIKORH".
Shahjalal University of Science and Technology has also a newspaper,named Protiddhoni which represents the on campus activities,also covers lifestyle ,entertainment,career etc.First edition has been launched very successfully.
There is a very famous litarery organization named "OHONA PORSHAD" founded by T. M. Ahmed Kaysar and *Mohammed Nurul Alam* two student from SUST. "OHONA PORSHAD" organized a number of folk festival called Louko Mela. They also invited the living mith of Bangla folk singer Shah Abdul Karim. They honored him for his contribution in Bangla Songs and culture.
Another renowned organization of the university is Theatre SUST, which is the first group theater of the University. Theatre SUST established in 7th December 1997. Till today the group has launched approximately 11 productions.
Another renowned organization of the university is SUST OSN[8], to support the free and open source software to the university students. It is taking a part to help the students in learning and using open source software and tools. It has opened a door to the students. Now they can realize that software can be developed or customized to use as they need.
Sports
The students of this university also participate in various sports for recreation and the finest athletes regularly compete in inter-university games like football, handball, volleyball, basketball etc. SUST also have some varsity teams.There is a well equipped gymnasium adjacent to the university student health center. Students organize both inter-department and inter-university tournaments for popular games every year.There is a special club named "SPORTS SUST" for that,which is operating by the student body.Girls and teachers also participate in several games.
Future Plans
For the culture and practice of free and innovative thinking and for mixing and exchanging of views among the teachers and students, the university is building a modern Teachers and Students Centre (TSC). Other projects include construction of an auditorium, seven residential halls for the boys and three residential halls for the girls, a stadium, a sports complex with swimming pool, a gymnasium, a clinic with all modern facilities, and a school and a college for the children of the faculty members and other supporting staff. A multipurpose shopping mall with modern facilities will also be built to meet the demand of the teachers, students and staff.[1]

Shah Paran

Shah Paran (R) was a renowned Sufi saint of the Suhrawardiyya and Jalalia order. It is said that he was the son of a sister of Hazrat Shah Jalal (R) and was born in Hadramaut, Yemen. He was an accomplice of his uncle, Shah Jalal, with whom he arrived in India. In 1303 AD, He took part in the expedition of Sylhet which was led by Shah Jalal. After the conquest of Sylhet he established a khanqah at Khadim Nagar in Dakshingarh Pargana, about 7 km away from Sylhet town, where he started Sufi spiritual practices and activities. He played a significant role in propagating Islam and establishing Muslim rule in the Sylhet region.
It is unclear how and when he died, but he is buried near his khanqah. For centuries, large numbers of devotees have been visiting his tomb, a practice which continues even today. On the 4th, 5th and 6th day of Rabi-ul-Awal, the Urs of Hazrat Shah Paran (R) takes place. His grave is located in a high hillock and it is carefully preserved at a place which is built with bricks and surrounded by walls. On the northern side of the grave there is an old tree, the branches and branchlets of which are extended above the entire tomb. The name of the tree is 'Ashagachh' (a tree of hopes). From a close observation of the leaves of the tree, it appears that the tree has grown out of a mixture of the fig, mango and some other tree. People eat the seeds of the figs devotionally in the hope of getting rid of diseases. Mangoes are also eaten with utmost respect as Tabaruk. There is an ancient mosque by the side of the tomb. The mosque has been modernised in 1989-91. About 1500 devout Muslims in a body can now say their prayers there.
Adjacent to the main tomb complex of Shah Paran, found in the East of Sylhet, is another tomb visited by worshipers, that of Konya Shah. Legend has it that this follower of the great saints was neither man nor woman. There is a permanent exhibiton of the life and times of this saint. Contemporary paintings and pictures featured at the tomb/exhibiton depict a person most likely to be a eunuch. Though the original conquerors earned a prominent role in Islamic history, main stream Islam shuns the idea of worshiping saints and eunuchs.

Shah Jalal

Shah Jalal was a saint of Bengal and is the most celebrated personality of the region of Sylhet, Bangladesh. Shah Jalal commands great respect of Muslims of the Indian subcontinent and is regarded as a national hero by Bangladeshis. Shah Jalal's name is associated with the Muslim conquest of Sylhet, of which he is considered to be the main figure. He lies buried at Sylhet.[1]
Early life and education
Born Shaikh Makhdum Jalal ad-Deen bin Mohammed, he was later affectionately renamed Shaikh-ul-Mashaikh Hazrat Shah Jalal al-Mujarrad (the last name meaning "the bachelor", on account of his celibacy). Shah Jalal's date and place of birth is unclear. Various traditions, folklore and hostorical documents suggest different ideas. A number of scholars claim that he was born in 1271 in Konya, Turkey, and later moved to Yemen, either as a child or adult, while others contest he was born in Yemen. He was the son of a Turkish Muslim cleric, who was a contemporary of the famous Persian poet and Sufi saint, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi. He was educated and raised by his maternal uncle, Syed Ahmed Kabir, in Mecca. He excelled in his studies and became a Hafiz (one who has committed the Qur'an to memory) and was proficient in Islamic theology. He achieved Kamaliyat (spiritual perfection) after 30 years of study and meditation.
Travel to India
According to legend, his uncle, Sheikh Kabir, one day gave Shah Jalal a handful of earth (soil) and asked him to travel to Hindustan with the instruction that he should settle down at whichever place in Hindustan whose earth matched completely in smell and color the earth he was given, and he should devote his life for the propagation and establishment of Islam there.[1]
Shah Jalal journeyed eastward and reached India in c. 1300, where he met with many great scholars and mystics. He arrived at Ajmer, where he met the great Sufi mystic and scholar, Pir Khawaja Gharibnawaz Muinuddin Hasan Chisty, who is credited with the spread of Islam in India. In Delhi, he met with Nizam Uddin Aulia, another major Sufi mystic and scholar.[1]
Conquest of Sylhet
Tradition goes that a Hindu king named Gaur Govinda ruled the Sylhet area, then predominantly Hindu. Sheikh Burhanuddin, a Muslim who lived in the territory under his control once sacrificed a cow to celebrate the birth of his son. A bird (kite) snatched a piece of flesh of the slaughtered cow and it fell from its beak on the house of a Brahmin Hindu, for whom cows were sacred. According to another tradition, the piece of flesh fell on the temple of the king himself, which he took as a great offence. At the order of the king, Burhanuddin's hands were said to have been cut off and his son killed. Burhanuddin went to the Sultan of Gaur, Shamsuddin Firuz Shah, to whom he submitted a prayer for justice. The Sultan accordingly sent an army under the command of his nephew Sikandar Khan Ghazi. He was, however,was stopped by rains and flood. The Sultan then ordered his Sipah Salar (armed forces chief) Nasiruddin to lead the war. [1]
At this time, Shah Jalal (R) was requested by Nizam Uddin at the behest of sultan firoz shah to travel to Sylhet along with sikander khan gazi to rescue Sheikh Burhan Uddin. With his 360 followers, including his nephew Shah Paran, he reached Bengal and joined the Muslim army in the Sylhet campaign.
Knowing that Shah Jalal was advancing towards Sylhet, Raja Gaur Govinda, the king, removed all ferry boats from the river Surma, thereby cutting off any means of crossing into Sylhet. Legend has it that Shah Jalal crossed the river Surma by sitting on a Jainamaz (prayer rug). Upon reaching the opposite bank, he ordered the Azan (call to prayer) to be sounded, at which the magnificent palace of Gaur Govinda shattered. With Shah Jalal's help, the Hindus were completely defeated and crushed by the Muslim Army.The superior fighting and combat skills helped the Muslim Army.
During the later stages of his life, Shah Jalal devoted himself to propagating Islam to the masses. Under his guidance, many thousands of Hindus and Buddhists converted to Islam. Shah Jalal become so renowned that even the world famous Ibn Battuta, whilst in Chittagong, was asked to change his plans and go to Sylhet to meet this great Awlia. On his way to Sylhet, Ibn Batuta was greeted by several of Shah Jalal (R.A)'s disciples who had come to assist him on his journey many days before he had arrived. Once in the presence of Shah Jalal (R.A), Ibn Batuta noted that Shah Jalal (R.A) was tall and lean, fair in complexion and lived by the masjed in a cave, where his only item of value was a goat from which he extracted milk, butter, and yogurt. He observed that the companions of the sheikh were foreign and known for their strength and bravery. He also mentions that many people would visit the sheikh and seek guidance. Shah Jalal (R.A) is therefore instrumental in the spread of Islam throughout north east India including Assam.
Later life
According to legend, Shah Jalal found a match to the earth his uncle once gave him, and according to his uncle's wishes, he settled down in Sylhet, near Choukidhiki. It is from here that he preached Islam and became a celebrated Muslim figure in Bengal. He and his disciples travelled and settled as far as Mymensingh and Dhaka to spread the teachings of Islam, such as Shah Paran in Sylhet, Shah Malek Yemeni in Dhaka, Syed Ahmad Kolla Shahid in Comilla, Syed Nasiruddin in the region of Pargana Taraf, Haji Daria and Shaikh Ali Yemeni. An expedition to Chittagong was lead by Khwaja Burhanuddin Qattan and Shah Badruddin. An expedition to Sunamganj was led by Shah Kamal Qattani, whose shrine is located in Shaharpara, Sunamganj.
Shah Jalal's fame extended across the Muslim world. Ibn Battuta, came to Sylhet and met with Shah Jalal (R.A). Ibn Botuta was a Moroccan Berber[1] scholar and jurisprudent from the Maliki Madhhab (a school of Fiqh, or Sunni Islamic law), and at times a Qadi or judge. However, he is best known as a traveler and explorer.The great Mughal poet, Amir Khusrau gives an account of Shah Jalal (R.A)'s conquest of Sylhet in his book "Afdalul Hawaade". Even today in Hadramaut, Yemen, Sheikh Makhdum Jalaluddin's name is established in folklore.
The exact date of his death is unknown, but he is reported by Ibn Battuta to have died in 746 AH (1347 A.D). He left behind no descendants, as he remained a bachelor his entire life, hence the name "al-Mujarrad" ("the unmarried"). He is buried in Sylhet in his Dargah (tomb), which is located in a neighbourhood now known as Dargah Mohalla, named for his Dargah. His shrine is a significant place of interest in Sylhet, with hundreds of devotees visiting daily. At the Dargah is also located the largest mosque in Sylhet and one of the largest in Bangladesh.

Place of Interest

Historical
Kean Bridge & Watch Of Ali Amjad
Shahi Eidgah
Gour Gobinda Fort
Raynogor Rajbari
Manipuri Rajbari (Medical Road)
Palace Of Jamindar Prosanna Takur
Shrines & Masjid
The Shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal
The Shrine of Hajrat Shah Paran
The Shrine of Gazi Burhanuddin
The Shrine of Shah Shundor
The Shrine of Chasni Pir
Manik Pir Tilla (The Shrine of Manik pir)
The Shrine of Shah Taiab Coylani
Museum
Osmani Museum
Museum of Raja's
Natural
Tilagorh Eco Park (Alutol)
Lakkatura,Malnichara & Tarapur Tea Estates.
Parjatan Corporation,Sylhet.(Resort)
Kanishile River Bank
Urban
Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
M C College
Dream Land (
Theme Park)
Adventure World (
Amusement Park)
ZAK Estate (
Park and Resort)
Osmani Shishu Udyan (
Park)
Shindabad (Al Hamra Market)

Sportsman

Rani Hamid chess player
Kaiser Hamid footballer
Tapash Baisya cricketer
Enamul Haque Jr cricketer
Alok Kapali cricketer
Rajin Saleh cricketer

Politician

Humayun Rashid ChoudhuryAL
Abdus Samad AzadAL
Shah M S KibriaAL
Saifur RahmanBNP
Suranjit SenguptaAL
Badar Uddin Ahmed KamranAL
M A Haque (abdul haque)BNP
Ilias AliBNP
A.N.M Shafiqul HaqAL
Dr. Sofiqur RahmanJIB
Moulana Habibur Rahman JIB
Forid Uddin Chy. JIB
Ehsanul Mahbub Jubair, JIB
Ajijur Rashid Babul, JIB
Dr. Ridwanur Rahman, Ex-Shibir President
Md. Shalim Uddin, Ex-President Central Shibir

শনিবার, ১ নভেম্বর, ২০০৮

Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani

Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani, better known as Banga Bir General M.A.G. Osmani (1 September 191816 February 1984) was the Supreme Commander of the Mukti Bahini and Bangladesh Armed Forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
Osmani was born in Sunamganj, Sylhet Division on 1 September 1918. He passed matriculation from Sylhet Government Pilot School. Later, he graduated in Aligarh Muslim University, India. He was a descendant of Nizamuddin Osmani of Dayamir, Sylhet.
In 1939, Osmani started his military career as a Gentleman Cadet during the British Raj in the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun. Upon completion of training at the IMA, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army as an artillery officer in 1940, duringWorld War II. He served in the Burma sector and won the distintion of a battle field promoted to a Major in 1942. After the birth of India and Pakistan in 1947 following the departure of the British Rule, Osmani joined the Pakistan Army on 7 October 1947, and was soon promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He served as an aide to the Chief of General Staff in 1949. In 1952, he served as commanding officer of the 9th battalion of the 14th Punjab Regiment, and later as additional commandant of the East Pakistan Rifles. After being promoted to Colonel in 1956, he was appointed and general staff officer of the army at the Army HQ. In 1958 Osmani held the post of deputy director of general staff and subsequently director of military operations. He retired from Pakistan Armed Forces on 16 February 1967. He was reinstated to active duty in the Bangladesh Forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War in April of 1971 and later promoted to the full rank of General during the 11-17th of July Bangladesh Sector Commanders Conference 1971. As such he was appointed C-in-C of all Bangladesh Forces during the duration of the war. He held the title of Commander-in-Chief until his retirement in April of 1972, when the Bangladesh Forces officially dissolved into four independent regular forces, the Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Navy, the Bangladesh Air Force and the Bangladesh Rifles.
After his retirement, Osmani entered the politics of East Pakistan. He joined the Sheikh Mujib-led Awami League in 1970. As a candidate from Awami League, he was elected a member of the Pakistan national assembly in the 1970 elections in Pakistan. After the commencement of Bangladesh Liberation War, Osmani became a member of the provisional government-in-exile.
With the formation of Bangladesh government on 17 April 1971, retired Colonel Osmani was reinstated to active duty under the the authority of Bangladesh government and appointed commander in chief of all Bangladesh Forces. During the historic Bangladesh Sector Commanders Conference 1971 he was promoted to General. Under his direct command, Osmani divided up the entire Bangladesh territory to 11 sectors. Each sector was under the command of a trained military officer with the title of Sector Commander. Each sector also had sub-sectors with sub sector commanders.
After the country's independence, Osmani retired from service 7 April 1972. He was then included in the cabinet of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as Minister of Shipping, Inland Water Transport and Aviation. Osmani was elected a member of the national parliament in 1973, and was included in the new cabinet with charge of the ministries of Post, Telegraph and Telephone, Communication, Shipping, Inland Water Transport and Aviation.
He resigned from the cabinet in May 1974 after the introduction of one-party system of government through the Fourth Amendment to the constitution. Along with Barrister Mainul Hosein, both elected MPs, resigned from the Awami League protesting abolishing of democracy in Bangladesh by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
MAG Osmani was appointed an Adviser to the President in charge of Defence Affairs by Khondaker Mostaq Ahmed (then President and Law Minister currently) on 29 August 1975. But he resigned immediately after the killing of four national leaders inside the Dhaka Central Jail on 3 November.
Osmani launched a new political party styled as Jatiya Janata Party in September 1976 and was elected its President. He contested in the presidential elections in 1978 as a nominee of the Democratic Alliance. He contested in the presidential elections once again in 1981 as a nominee of the Jatiya Nagarik Committee (National Citizens Committee).
All his life Osmani lived as a bachelor and had no offspring who exist today. His family home is 18 km south from sylhet city in the villege of doyamir.His home in the Nayarpul locality of the north-eastern city of Sylhet, from where he hails, is currently in ruins. The Government has claimed it as its official territory.
But though a bachelor all his life, Osmani was close to his relatives and family throughout his life. Most trips to Sylhet involved making visits to his loved ones, and in Dhaka he would regularly welcome nephews and nieces to his residence. Within the wider family Osmani was known for his love, but also for his temper, his passion, his glaring eyes and his military discipline. Only his alsatians were generally disliked, and almost universally feared by visiting folk. Famously one niece was bitten when she tried to run away from one of the Osmani alsatians.
Osmani left no heirs but his imprint and impact live on in his wider family, two generations after his death.
In 1983, aged 65, Osmani was diagnosed with cancer at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. Immediately he was flown to London for treatment, at the Government's expense. He was attended to by specialists at St Bartholomew's Hospital. Most of his time in the UK was spent staying at the family home of his nephew and niece, Mashahid Ali and Sabequa Chowdhury. Both were beloved to him - the late Mashahid (Shahee) had helped Osmani in his later years by funding the establishment of his political party, the Jatiya Janata Party, following Osmani's exit from the Mujib government. Sabequa spent formative years of her childhood in Osmani's home in Sylhet, and Osmani gifted his allocated plot in Dhaka to her in the early 1970s. Osmani's days would pass with an almost endless stream of visitors, well wishers and acolytes calling on him to wish him well, to ask his guidance, or just to see him.
Though Osmani was responding favourably to the cancer treatment, in early February he deteriorated unexpectedly. The hospital diagnosed that he had been given the wrong type of blood at the CMH and that this was now infected. His demise followed immediately after, in bed on 16 February 1984 in London, aged 66. Throughout these months of treatment and convalescence, the famous fire in his eyes and the quiver in his bristly moustache stayed with him till the very end.
Following his sudden death, Osmani's body was flown to Bangladesh. The cavalcade of cars to Heathrow was provided a special police escort which with full diplomatic protocol sped the entourage through the streets of London, stopping the traffic along the route. About a week after his death Osmani was buried in Darga, Sylhet with full military honours. His grave lies adjacent to his mother's.
Mohammed Ataul Ghani Osmani in regarded in Bangladesh as one of the greatest freedom fighters, regarded as a brave man never afraid of laying down his life. The international airport in his hometown of Sylhet has been named after him as Osmani Antorjatik Biman Bondor (Osmani International Airport - Sylhet). Even the state-run hospital in Sylhet, is named after him as Osmani Hospital. Also a small flock of tourists and local visitors flock to his dilapitated home in Dayamir, Sylhet to have a decent picnic on the huge lawn, a swim in the vast pond dug by himself, or just to admire the dilapitated house.

Famous Person of Sylhet For Cultural Activity

Hason Raja (Bangla: হাসন রাজা) literally Hason the king, was a mystical poet and songwriter in Bengal, now Bangladesh. Born at the end of the 19th century 1854 to a traditional Zamindar or landowner family near Sunamganj, Sylhet, though his anchestral home is in Rampasha, Biswanath, Sylhet. Hason indulged himself in material pursuits in his youth. Later, he came to believe worldly pleasures are meaningless and wrote songs that have been described as some of the most thoughtful songs, touching the deepest emotions of the human mind.
Hason's father, Dewan Ali Raja (Choudhury), was a direct descendant of the Hindu king Raja Birendra Singhdev, (who later converted to Islam and became known as Babu Khan). Hason's mother was Ali Raja's second wife, Huramat Jahan Begum. As befitted Hason's ancestry, he was tall, handsome and charming, with a regal manner and dress sense.
Hason's elder half-brother, Ubeydur Raja, died when Hason was a teenager. The death of Ali Raja, about 40 days later, meant Hason became responsible for overseeing his father's vast property at an early age. Despite his youth when taking on this responsibility, he proved to be a very successful Zamindar, acquiring acres of land and many properties in Sylhet. Yet, despite his financially privileged upbringing, Hason is credited with setting up a number of local schools and religious organisations, and is said to have frequently provided for the poor and needy of his community.
Hason Raja had four sons, Khan Bahadur Dewan Ganiur Raja, Hasinur Raja, Khan Bahadur Dewan Eklimur Raja Chowdhury (Kabbo Bisharod) and Aftabur Raja. Dewan Eklimur Raja followed in his footsteps and also wrote poetry and songs; he was also known as the architect of modern poetry of Sylhet area. Dewan Hason Raja donated one third of his property as Waqf in 1918 for the well being of the people and offsprings of his beloved son Eklimur Raja.
Hason Raja's songs are in the folk tradition of Bengal that seeks the ultimate truth beyond the material world. They include songs such as 'Lokey bole', published in his book of songs, Hason Udas. In recent times, they have been modernised and are very popular in both Bangladesh and West Bengal. Many book and musical CDs has been published so far on great mystic poet Hason Raja.
Hason Raja died in 1922, years before his contribution to the poetry of Bengal was mentioned in lectures at Oxford University by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
Hason Raja is also known as Dewan Hasan Raja. A beautiful museum namely, Museum of Rajas' has been established in his anchestral home at Raja - Kunjo, Sylhet, Bangladesh; where historical exhibits of Hason Raja, Eklimur Raja, Talibur Raja (grandson) and other respected Rajas' are displayed. The sponsors of this spectacular Museum is 'Educationist Dewan Talibur Raja Trust'.
Songs
These are some of the famous songs written by Hason Raja:
Baula Ke Banailo re (Who made the Baul Singer)Loke Bole Bole Re (People Say)Matiro Pinjiri (Cage made of Clay)Nisha Lagilo (Addiction Started)Sona Bondhe (Dear Beloved)
Translation of Loke Bole Bole Re
People say, they say I have no house built.What house will I build,a palace in the sky?
I’ll build a proper house,But how long will I stay for?I look in the mirror,I see gray hair that I have.
Thinking of this,Hason Raja hasn’t built a house.Where will Allah take and keep him,For that reason he cries.
If Hason Raja knew,how long he would live for,then he would have built his house and rooms in many colours.
People say, they say I have no house built.What house will I build,A palace in the sky?
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hason_Raja"
Shah Abdul Karim
Shah Abdul Karim (Bengali: শাহ আবদুল করিম) is a Bangladeshi musician. His specialized field of music is Bengali Baul music. He lives in the district of Sunamganj. He was rewarded the Ekushey Padok in the year 2001 for his songs, also received Drouhee Kotha-shahitayk Abdur Rouf Choudhury Award in 2000.
He was born in 1916 in Ujandhal, Dirai, in Sunamganj. This is one of the remote village of Bangladesh, where Abdul Karim born. Growing up with poverty, he started expressing his thoughts and emotions from very early age. Ektara, an instrument of music being his medium to express his thoughts, villager’s heart melted with his melodic and soothing voice. With so many time devoted in singing, hardly he could make time to make his way to think about livelihood or any other job than entertaining people. But he was forced to earn living hardship by harvesting. But Music never left him even with so much obstacles and poverty. As the time goes by, and as he was maturing with age, he went on taking training of spiritual and baul music from Kamal Uddin, Shadhak Rashid Uddin, Shah Ibrahim Mastan Baksh. His versatility ranged from Baul song, Spiritual song to Bhatiali. He went on learning all the exclusive modules of Baul song afterwards along with Shariatti, Marfatti, Nabuot, Belaya. The various devout form of music. He was motivated by philosophy of renowned Lalan Shah, Panju Shah and Duddu Shah
Most famous songs
Kano piritee barailarey bondhu
Gari cholena cholena
Maya lagaise
Ami koolhara kolonkini
Agey ki shundor din kataitham
Ami tomar kaul-er gari
Shokhi kunjo shajao
Ailaye na
Boshonto Batashey
Dilwar Khan
Kabi Dilwar (Born on 1 January 1937 in Sylhet, Bangladesh) is a Bangladeshi poet famous for writing on behalf of the poor and neglected people. He is the only poet known as "Gono Manusher Kabi" which means Poet of the People. He describes the struggles of the lower class through poems, short stories, essays and journal articles. He is recipient of the nation's highest award in poetry (Bangla Academy Prize) in 1980 and Academy Fellowship(#126) in 1981. Recently he was awarded the Ekushey Padak, the highest civilian award, for literature.

This Bangladeshi biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilwar_Khan"
Syed Mujtaba Ali
(Bengali: সৈয়দ মুজতবা আলী ) (1904-1974), was a renowned Bengali author, academician, scholar and linguist. He was born in Sunamganj, Sylhet in Bangladesh.
In 1919, Syed Mujtaba Ali was inspired by Rabindranath Tagore and started writing to the poet. In 1921, Mujtaba joined the Indian freedom struggle and left his school in Sylhet. He went to Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan and graduated in 1926.He was the first graduate of the university. Later, he went to Kabul and worked in the education department (1927-1929). From 1929 to 1932 he studied at the universities in Berlin, London, Paris and Bonn, earning a PhD in comparative religious studies from the latter with a dissertation on the Khojas.
In 1934-1935 he studied at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Subsequently, he taught at colleges in Baroda (1936-1944) and Bogra (1949).
After the Partition of India into India and Pakistan in 1947, Syed Mujtaba Ali went from India to the then East Pakistan, his motherland. He was a language activist and a supporter of Bengali as the national language of East Pakistan. In 1948, being the principal of Azizul Huq College, Bogra, he wrote an essay, 'The State Language of East Pakistan', which was printed in Chaturanga of Kolkata.During that time, the West Pakistan Rulers tried to impose Urdu as the only state language of East Pakistan while Bengali was spoken by most of the people. The government of Pakistan wanted an explanation. Mujtaba Ali resigned and went to India.
After a brief stint at Calcutta University (1950), Mujtaba Ali became Secretary of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and editor of its Arabic journal Thaqafatul Hind. From 1952 to 1956 he worked for All India Radio at New Delhi, Cuttack and Patna. Finally, he was professor at Visva-Bharati University (1956-1964).
After the liberation of Bangladesh, Syed Mujtaba Ali returned to his native land in 1972, where he died soon after.
Ali knew French, German, Italian, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Hindi, Sanskrit, Marathi, Gujarati, Pashtu, English and several dialects of Bengali.
Books
Deshe Bideshe [1948]
Panchatantra [1952]
Obishashsho [1955]
Chacha Kahini [1955]
Mayurkanthi [1957]
Joley Dangay [1957]
Dhupchaya [1958]
Shabnam [1960]
Chaturanga [1960]
Sreshtho Golpo [1961]
Porosh Pathor [1962]
Bahubichitra [1962]
Bhoboghure O Onnanyo [1962]
Sreshtha Ramma Rochona [1962]
Tunimem [1964]
Duhara [1966]
Pachandashai [1967]
Shahriyar [1969]
Hitler [1970]
Kotona Asrujal [1971]
Musafir [1971]
Prem
Dandya Madhur
Tulanahina
Rajaujeer

Education

Sylhet city is served by Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education,Sylhet and educational institutes like Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, ,M C College, Osmani Medical College, Govt. Pilot High School Sylhet, etc. Other notable educational institutions are Jalalabad Cantonment public School & College, Sylhet Cadet College, Sylhet Law College, Sylhet Polytechnic, Sylhet Aaliyah Madrasa, Sylhet Government College, Madan Mohon College, Sylhet Government Women College, Blue Bird School and college, The Aided High School, Charipara High School, Agragami Government Girls High School and some famous private English schools. Among them Scholarshome is one of the best English medium school & college in Sylhet city.
There are also 4 private medical colleges in Sylhet, namely Jalalabad Ragib-Rabeya Medical College & Hospital, North East Medical College & Hospital, Sylhet Women's Medical College and Durre Samad Red Crescent Medical College. Among them Jalalabad Ragib-Rabeya Medical College is the largest, established in 1995, founded by philanthropist Mr. Ragib Ali and her wife Mrs. Rabeya Khatun. The official web site is http://www.jrrmc.edu.bd/

Transport

Cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws, busses, mini-buses and cars are the main mode of transport for the inhabitants of the city, with close to 80,000 rickshaws running each day.Sylhet is well connected by highways and railway links to Chittagong, Dhaka as well as other parts of Sylhet. Highway links to the India have been established though Asian highway.The Sylhet Railway Station is the main railway station providing trains on national routes operated by the state-run Bangladesh Railway.The city of Sylhet is served by Osmani International Airport. It is Bangladesh's third busiest airport and has flight services to Abu Dhabi, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, and London. Work started in 2006 to upgrade the airport to international standards including a new terminal building, a jetway, a taxiway, and a new expansion project of the runway to allow for landing of wide-bodied aircraft.

Demographics & Culture

The Sylheti language (Silôţi or Sileţi) is spoken throughout Sylhet Division, with some minor dialectal variations. Sylheti is an Eastern Indic language closely related to Bengali (Bangla), Chittagonian and Assamese (Ôxômiya) languages. Most Sylhetis are at least bilingual to some degree, as they are taught Bengali at all levels of education in Bangladesh. Sylheti is also the dominant dialect of Bengali among the inhabitants of the Barak Valley in India, centered around Cachar district in Assam. The largest Sylheti-dominated city in India is Silchar, with significant Sylheti-speaking populations in Agartala, Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Shillong and Kolkata.[citation needed]
Sylhet is the home of most Bangladeshi migrants to the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. Certain parts of the United Kingdom are heavily populated with people from Sylhet, most notably the East End of London, especially the boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets, which includes Brick Lane, a famous street dubbed "Banglatown" for its large Bangladeshi, almost entirely Sylheti, population.[citation needed]
Another area where Sylhetis have remained as a large group abroad is New York City in the United States. Although there are many of them living in Manhattan and Brooklyn, Sylhetis are mostly found in the borough of Queens. Most of them live in areas like Astoria, Long Island City, and Jackson Heights. Hillside Avenue in Jamaica, Queens has seen a tremendous amount of newly opened Bangladeshi restaurants mainly by Sylhetis and a great influx of such residents attracted by the real estate boom there.[citation needed]
As so many Sylhetis are resident abroad, Sylhet has a major flow of foreign currency from non-resident Bangladeshis; many Sylheti families' sole source of income comes from relatives abroad and this attracts influx migrant workers and families from other parts of Bangladesh, earning livings by peddling rickshows, working as servants and peasants, particularly people from Comilla, Noakhali, Mymensingh and Barisal are found lower denomination jobs in Sylhet.[citation needed]
Given its unique cultural and economic development, and linguistic differences (Greater Sylhet region was a part of Assam and Surma Valley State for much of the British Raj in comparison to the rest of Bangladesh), and given that Sylhet has, for most of its recent history, been a region of a larger entity (i.e., Assam, Bengal, Bangladesh), Sylheti's have a strong attachment to their regional and religious identity. [1] [2]
Many Sylhetis regard themselves as fiercely proud of their own language, family-orientated community culture and conservative practice of Islam, but it must be remembered that not all Sylhetis are Muslim. Indian Sylhetis are either Hindu or Christian. Hasan Raja , a Sylheti cultural icon, was depicted in a film as a lecherous fellow who forsakes his family and uses obscene language. Enraged Sylhetis took the makers of the film to court. Adding insult to injury, the film was also shot in Bengali rather than Hason Raja's native Sylheti language.[citation needed][3].Although Hason Raja was a practicing Muslim, he is revered even by Hindu and Christian Sylhetis.
Sylheti attachment to their regional identity also continues in the efforts of many Sylhetis to keep marital relationships within the same regional cultural background.[4]

Land and Economy

The city is noted for its picturesque rolling hills, such as the Jaintia and Khasia hills. Sylhet is also famed for its tea gardens, pineapple gardens and orange gardens most notably those in the Moulvibazar area.

Civic administration

Sylhet (City) consists of 27 wards and 210 mahallas. The area of the town is 57.64 km. It has a population of 369425; male 54.68%, female 45.32%; density of population is 11,936 per km². Literacy rate among the town people is 66.9%. The rapid growth and expansion of Sylhet occurred during the colonial period. Sylhet Municipality was established in 1878. A devastated earthquake demolished almost the entire town on 12 June 1897. On the wreckage a modern and European model new town was built later on. Many new roads were constructed in late 1890s. Sylhet became really connected to the other parts of the country with the establishment of an extension line of Assam-Bengal Railway in 1912-15. From the very beginning of the 20th century, importance of Sylhet city increased with the establishment of tea industry. In 1950s and 1960s, rapid urbanisation took place in the town by the expatriate Syletis and still the process is going on. At present, Sylhet is the district-headquarter as well as the divisional headquarter of the districts of Sunamganj, Habibganj, Moulvibazar and Sylhet.

Geography and Climate

Sylhet is located in north-eastern Bangladesh at 24°32′0″N, 91°52′0″E, on the northern bank of the Surma River.
The physiography of Sylhet comprises mainly of hill soils, encompassing a few large depressions known locally as "beels" which can be mainly classified as oxbow lakes, caused by tectonic subsidence primarily during the earthquake of 1762. Sylhet experiences a hot, wet and humid tropical climate. The city is within the monsoon climate zone, with annual average highest temperatures of 23°C (Aug-Oct) and average lowest temperature of 7°C (Jan).[7] Nearly 80% of the annual average rainfall of 3,334 mm occurs between May and September.

History of Sylhet

Historians believe that Sylhet (or Shilhat, as it was known in ancient times), was an expanded commercial center from the ancient period, which explains its original namesake. During this time, Sylhet was probably inhabited by Indo-Aryan Brahmins, though ethnically the population would also have traces of Munda, Assamese, and Dravidian ancestry. It has also been suggested that Ancient Kingdom of Harikela was situated in modern Sylhet.
In the ancient and early medieval period, Sylhet was ruled primarily by local chieftains as viceroy of the kings of Pragjyatispur. There is evidence to suggest that the Maharaja Sri Chandra, of northern Bengal, conquered Bengal in the 10th century, although this is a much disputed topic amongst Bangladeshi historians and archaeologists. This was a period of relative prosperity and there is little evidence to suggest this was marred by wars or feuds. Sylhet was certainly known by the rest of India, and is even referred to in the ancient Hindu sacred Tantric text, the Shakti Sangama Tantra, as 'Silhatta'. The last chieftain to reign in Sylhet was Govinda of Gaur, also known as Gaur Govinda.
The 14th century marked the beginning of Islamic influence in Sylhet. A messianic Muslim saint, Hazrat Shah Jalal Yamani, commonly known as Shah Jalal, arrived in Sylhet in 1303 from Mecca via Delhi and Dhaka (Sonargaon) with the instructions for aiding Sikhander Khan Ghazi in defeating Govinda of Gaur. Sikhander Khan Ghazi was the direct nephew of sultan Firoz Shah of Delhi. Under the spiritual leadership of Hazrat Shah Jalal and his 360 companions the local pagans were brought under control and they began to spread Islam. He died in Sylhet in or around the year 1350. His shrine is located inside the parameter of the mosque complex known as Dargah-e-Shah Jalal. Even today Shah Jalal remains revered; visitors arrive from all over Bangladesh and beyond to pay homage.
Saints such as Shah Jalal Yamani, Shah Farhan, locally known as Shah Paran, Shah Kamal Qattani, locally known as Shah Kamal and Syed Nasiruddin Sipahsalar, locally known as Syed Nasiruddin were responsible for the conversion of most of the populace from native religion or paganism to Islam. Shortly thereafter, Sylhet became a centre of Islam in Bengal. During this era of Muslim rule, Sylhet was often referred to as Jalalabad in official documents and historical accounts.
In the late 18th century, the British East India Company became interested in Sylhet and saw it as an area of strategic importance in the war against Burma. Sylhet gradually was absorbed into British control and administration and was governed as a part of Bengal. After the British administrative reorganization of India, Sylhet was eventually incorporated into Assam. It remained a part of Assam for the rest of the era of British rule. In 1947, following a referendum, almost all of erstwhile Sylhet became a part of East Pakistan, barring the Karimganj subdivision which was incorporated into the new Indian state] of Assam.[4] In 1971, Sylhet became part of the newly formed independent country of Bangladesh.
Important historical places include the Stone Monument of Jaintapur, Mound of Gharduara, Gaiyabi Mosque, tombs of Shah Jalal, Shah Farhan, Shah Kamal Qattani and [Syed Nasiruddin]], Abu Torab Mosque, Nawabi Masque, Shahi Eidgah, Mughal Mosque at Akhalia, temple of Sri Chaitannya Dev in Dhaka Dakshin, the Thin Mandir (trio temple) and the ancient Pargana of Kanihati.
Sylhet and Sylhetis all over the world have been contributing to society in their countries and causes far and wide. Sylhetis everywhere have formed Sylheti associations in different parts of the world. In India major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore have formed Sreehatta Sammelans, thereby bringing their own people closer and maintaining cultural links and integrity.
The Sylhet region has a "friendship link" (rather than full town twinning) with the United Kingdom city of St Albans. The link was established in 1988 when the District Council supported a housing project in Sylhet as part of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless. Sylhet was chosen because it is the area of origin for the largest ethnic minority group in St Albans.[5]
Sylhet's current commissioner is the brother of the late Syed Abdul-Wahab who did wonders for the city. He died in in Detroit on April 17, 2000. He was was the first Sylheti to go to America. The whereabouts of his family are currently unknown.

Identity Of sylhet

This article is about the city. For the upazila or district or the administrative division, see Sylhet Sadar Upazila or Sylhet District or Sylhet Division.
Nickname(s): Jalalabad
Coordinates: 24°32′0″N 91°52′″E
Mayor Badruddin Ahmed Kamran Khan
- City
57.64 km² (22.3 sq mi)
- Urban
31.14 km² (12 sq mi)
- Metro
26.50 km² (10.2 sq mi)

Population (2007)
- City
369,425
- Density
5,488/km² (14,213.9/sq mi)
- Urban
53,114
- Urban Density
951/km² (2,463.1/sq mi)
- Metro
339,368
- Metro Density
11,936/km² (30,914.1/sq mi)
Time zone BST (UTC+6)
Sylhet (Sylheti: সিলট Silôţ Bengali: সিলেট Sileţ), previously Shilhat, Sreehatta, and Jalalabad, is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the capital of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District. Located on the northern bank of the Surma River and surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills, Sylhet is nestled among picturesque tea plantations and lush green tropical forests.