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Guru Griho

From Sylhet

Ambarkhana Girls School &
College Turns 39

Iqbal Siddiquee

Ambarkhana Girls High School & College, a renowned institution of Sylhet, has turned 39 this year.

Many of the important members of the group who had taken the first initiatives to establish the institution in 1970 are by now no more. The group included, Dr. Shamsuddin Ahmed (martyred), Principal Hosne Ara Ahmed, Solman Chowdhury, Mohius Sunnah Chowdhury, MA Quaiyum, Abul Barkat, his wife Angura Khatun, Abu Bakar, Muhibur Rahman Chowdhury, Qudrat ullah, Badar Uddin Zaigirder, Altafur Rahman, MA Malik, Fazal Ahmed and Dr. MA Salam Qamar Uddin Zaigirder.

Records show that Muhibur Rahman Chowdhury chaired the first meeting of this initiative on 5th April, 1970 at the Darshan Deuri primary school, where veteran educationalist Solman Chowdhury attended as chief guest. The committee requested Mohius Sunnah Chowdhury to provide land for the establishment of the school, who donated 1.5 acres of land attached to the Housing estate area. The school began with a token of one taka given by one Gous Ahmed of Rai Hossain area.

Initially Ambarkhana Junior Girls High School started its journey at the Darshan Deuri Sarkari Primary School during the morning sessions. It began with students for class six and class seven alone, and retired headmaster Abdul Gani of the Housing Estate area was made the acting Headmaster. Three assistant teachers were appointed. However, shortly afterwards, Abdul Gani fell sick and honorary teacher Kudrat Ullah took over the reins. Kamal Uddin Zaigirder and Badrun Nahar Momota also served as honorary teachers.

School managing committee president Dr. Shamsuddin Ahmed was killed brutally in the hands of Pak army at his workplace Sylhet Medical College Hospital in April 1971. His wife, principal Hosne Ara Ahmed took over as the committee head on 3 February of 1972 to run the school after the liberation war. Shah Manirul Haque MA (Aligarh) was appointed to the role of Headmaster.

Soon afterward, the then Lawmaker Dewan Farid Gazi laid the foundation of the school's own building on the donated land. Eminent personalities including Begum Rashid, Muslim Chowdhury and others were present. The first 3-storey building on the western side was constructed with the donations from people from all walks of life. It opened on the 7th of February 1974, and the Junior high school got started.

The Ambarkhana Mohila College started its journey from 1992-93 with 51 students in the Humanities group. At the beginning, eminent educationalist and social activist Professor Baha Uddin Zakaia served as the acting principal.

Soon after the institutions were unified under the banner of Ambarkhana Girls School & College. The science section was opened in 1995-96 with approval from the Comilla Board. After 6 years, the newly established Sylhet board gave approval for the school to offer Business Study courses in 2002. Now, the institution as a collegiate school has a total of 1500 students in the 3 sections. It also has an extensive library with about 3000 books.

Syed Muhaddis Ahmed has been serving as the Principal since 2001. The institution has been accommodating HSC examinations since 1997.

The principal said 1250 girls are there in the school section while the figure is about 750 in the college section. However, the institution suffers through a chronic staffing shortage. Sixteen teachers are working in school section against the minimum 22 posts while 3 part timers are helping them. In the college section 14 are working as teachers.