Name street after Sir Salimullah
Speakers urge govt
Staff Correspondent
Speakers at a discussion yesterday called on the authorities to name a city street after Nawab Sir Khwaza Salimullah Bahadur in recognition of his contribution to the development of Dhaka city.They also urged the government to set up committees at every district to pay homage to the great philanthropist on the occasion of his birth and death anniversaries. The discussion was organised by the national committee to observe birth and death anniversaries of Nawab Salimullah marking his 92nd death anniversary on the premises of Ahsan Manzil Museum in the old city. The speakers also highlighted the life and works of Nawab Salimullah. They recalled the outstanding contribution of Salimullah to the advancement of education, especially madrasa education and politics as well. While presenting a keynote paper titled 'The role of Salimullah in the movement for education of Muslims in Bangla', Dr Md Alamgir, deputy keeper of Ahsan Manzil Museum, said Salimullah, who mainly patronised Islami ideology and modernised education, was eventually involved in politics. In 1906, Salimullah took initiative to reform Madrasa curriculum since students completing education from there could not avail themselves of suitable jobs in comparison to non-Muslim students who used to receive education from mainstream institutions, he added. " Many of us do not know that Ahsan Ullah Engineering School founded at the own initiative of Salimullah is now known as Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet)," said Alamgir. Khwaza Ehsanul Haque Bhola, a successor of Salimullah, called upon the authorities concerned to observe both birth and death anniversaries of Salimullah and name a city street after his name. Talking to The Daily Star, actor Khwaza Naim Murad, a great grandson of Salimullah, lamented that the birth and death anniversaries of Salimulla, one of the great leader of the sub-continent, are not observed in a befitting manner at national level. Naim also regretted that Sir Salimullah, as the founder of Bangladesh Muslim League, Kobi Nazrul College, Mitford Hospital and one of founders of Dhaka University, has not been given adequate exposure in the textbooks. Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka addressed the seminar as chief guest while Begum Shamsunnahar Khwaza Ahsan Ullah, daughter-in-law of Sir Salimullah, spoke as special guest. Earlier, Qurankhwani and doa mahfil were held for the salvation of the departed soul.
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