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Spotlight

M Anwarul Haq

In Early 1972, the then government of Bangladesh intended to abolish cadet colleges under the erroneous impression that these institutions were for rich parents' kids. They decided to rename them as residential model schools.

Following the government announcement, the informed academic circles of the country expressed their anxiety and concern. However, the first effective move to retain the cadet colleges originated on the Faujdarhat Cadet College campus. Every cadet was concerned. This generated lot of anxiety and tension. Led by some cadets studying in Class XII, a ten member committee, headed by Cadet M Anwarul Haq (12/464) was formed titled, “Keep Cadet College Campaign Committee.” They set out for capital Dhaka with bits of their accumulated pocket money and hitch-hiking on UN trucks carrying food relief. Their aim was to mobilise opinion to keep the cadet colleges as they were. They carried out mass distribution of cyclostyled leaflets speaking of efficacy of cadet colleges, meetings with policy makers, and chiefs of three armed services, key bureaucrats, and a host of cabinet ministers, opinion makers and newspaper editors in Dhaka. Many newspapers published items favouring cadet college education, and four-page supplements on “Cadet College Education” were published in eight national newspapers by the Committee. Some newspapers spoke about the wrong policy decision. One was Holiday whose editor Enayetullah Khan wrote under the title, “Education in a Mess.” The Committee also went on a visit to Momenshahi Cadet College to garner support. Ultimately the “Keep Cadet College Campaign Committee” through concerted efforts and the transportation provided by senior commanders of the armed forces succeeded in meeting a large cross section of opinion makers and influential quarters and also worked towards mobilising then OFA in Dhaka, and sought the help of some of the senior Old Faujians. It must be mentioned with humility that the Keep Cadet College Campaign Committee was composed entirely of present Cadets of Faujdarhat Cadet College, who only later graduated to be Old Faujians!

It seemed everyone was convinced that cadet colleges were indeed institutions for the meritorious and not for the moneyed or privileged class.

However, a distinct push came from late General MAG Osmany, the commander of the liberation war, when convinced by the arguments of the Cadets from his CMCH hospital bed he decided to take up the case of the cadet colleges, “come what the consequences may be.” He wrote a piece in the Bangladesh Observer being a sitting minister, “Are Cadet Colleges anachronistic” on the heels of another article by M Anwarul Haq, “Cadet Colleges: Our schools of Socialism”-- as everything was being seen through a socialistic prism then. Ultimately bowing to public opinion and the roar of a sitting cabinet minister, it was decided to retain the cadet colleges in their infant state. But there was immediate disappointment. It was decided that the cadet colleges would be run through the Minitry of Education. This was unacceptable to the Keep Cadet College Campaign Committee, knowing the lack of administrative and academic skills of the Education Ministry to run cadet colleges at that time. Further lobbying continued and ultimately, the Campaign Committee was able to convince the influential quarters. Gazette notifications were published and official amendments were made. And the cadet colleges of Bangladesh started their fresh voyage under the Ministry of Defence, and the Governing Bodies were reconstituted accordingly, a system that continues today. According to the suggestion of the Committee, Dr Badrul Millat was appointed the first regular Principal of Faujdarhat Cadet College following the success of the Keep Cadet College Campaign.

Many who pitched for the Keep Cadet College Campaign belonged to the school of liberal thinking, of a pluralistic and independent society and did not plan their career in the armed forces. But they all believed that these institutions, better known as public schools, should be retained to create leaders in every sphere of society. They never looked for tributes or recognition and no plaque has ever marked their contribution. They are happy that their alma mater exists and now enters 50 years of glorious existence. Besides, what began as the first cadet college, has been replicated by many other colleges, the number of cadet colleges now being 12, including two for girls.

It is often said that the major battles of Bangladesh's war were won in the playfields of cadet colleges. If that be so, it can also be said that the Cadet Colleges had a rebirth and a new and meaningful existence through the Keep Cadet College Campaign, and the victory in this case belongs to the playfields of Faujdarhat.

It is very difficult to draw an extensive list of all those who deserve gratitude for their contribution in the KEEP CADET COLLEGE CAMPAIGN. However, from records of the Dhaka and Chittagong chapters and from the minutes of OFA meetings and souvenirs of early seventies, the following were mentioned with the following citation in one writing, “The Old Faujians expressed their gratitude to all those who acted at the right time for the continued existence of the alma mater. ”

The OFA in late 1972 paid special thanks to the following;
a) General M A G Osmany;
b) Dr Badrul Millat;
Mr A Quddus Bhuyian
Dr Mohd Selim
c) Cadet (late) Squadron Leader Qayumul Huda (12)
Cadet Nurur Rahman (12)
Cadet M Anwarul Haq (12) Chairman, Keep Cadet College Campaign Committee
Cadet M Shahidur Rahman Khadem, (13)
Cadet Anwar Shahid (15)
Cadet Khaled Bin Islam (15)
Ofn Shahed I Khan (9)
Ofn ASM Nasim (5)
Ofn Nasim Anwar (6)

There were also a few other Cadet/ Old Faujians who were associated for various stints.