Feature

Story on St. Gregory's High School

Dr. Abdur Raqib Chowdhury

I had the opportunity to read the article on Saint Gregory's High School written by Aslam Khaleel published in the Star Campus dated 9th December2007. It was more interesting to me because I am also a Gregorian- Matriculation batch of 1954. Hats off to Aslam Khaleel for the elaborate description of the school, alumni and the teachers. He also described some important events, however, I did not find any mention about the role played by some of the students in the 'State Language Movement' of 1952. We were studying in class IX during that time and I was the class captain, which also made me the school captain. The role of the school captain was very vague.

Three students of our class took leading role during the state language movement.

They are:
Shah Moazzem Hossain (ex-chief whip of Awami League, immediately after independence and subsequently member of Ershad cabinet) Abdul Wadood and myself. After observing the strike on February 21st 1952, we proceeded to Dhaka university in a procession with other students to attend the meeting held under the famous mango tree that day. When it was decided to break the regulation 144, we all proceeded to the main gate and went out in groups of ten and was eventually arrested by the police. We were taken to central jail via Lal Bag Thana. In that group, we were about 64 students, mainly from university and colleges. We three were the only students from high school in that group.

After my medical education from Dhaka Medical College I had difficulty in finding appropriate position in the East Pakistan health services. I worked under Professer S.M. Rabb and Professor Fazle Rabbi who advised me to go overseas and get higher education. I left Pakistan in 1963 and worked in different hospitals of the United States and Canada. In Canada, I obtained my F.R.C.P. in internal medicine and practised in a federal government institution until 2003, when I retired. At present I am settled in Canada.

In this connection, I would like to mention that two of my elder brothers are also Gregorians. Dr. Abdul Latif Chowdhury ( batch of 1947) who obtained Phd degree from Berlin University in Physics. He taught at Dhaka University and left for United States in the late 60s and taught Physics in the Elizabeth State University. He even played a greater role in the State Language Movement. He was a member of the Dhaka University Students Language Movement Committee and was arrested on the 7th of March 1952 with other leaders. My other brother Mr. Abdul Khaleque Chowdhury ( batch of 1952) was a banker. He was an avid sportsman and was the star defense man of Saint Gregory' school team during that time. The school won inter school championship during his time. He represented East Pakistan in football in 1955 and was selected for Pakistan to play in Asian quadrangular game, but was unable to play due to injury. Once upon a time he was also the General Secretary of Bangladesh Football Federation. He was a Dhaka University Blue in football. The recent article by Aslam Khaleel imbibed me to bring out all those facts about past Gregorians.

(C/O Mr. Abdul Khaleque Chowdhury
House no. 24, Flat no. 4D
Road no. 4, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka
Tel. 967-2504.