12 teachers honoured by IPDC, Prothom Alo
Twelve primary and secondary level teachers of different institutions across the country received ‘IPDC-Prothom Alo Priyo Shikkhok Shommanona 2019’ for their contribution to nation-building at a grand event on Friday.
IPDC Finance Limited, the first private sector financial institution of Bangladesh, and Prothom Alo, the highest circulated and most read newspaper in Bangladesh, jointly organised a colorful award giving ceremony at Hotel Intercontinental Dhaka's Ruposhi Bangla Grand Ballroom to honour the teachers.
A six-member jury board led by noted writer and academic Syed Manzoorul Islam selected 12 teachers out of 1,674 nominees.
The event started with tolling of school bells, followed by rendering of national anthem by students of Sunbeams School.
Former teacher of Faridpur High School Jagdish Chandra Ghosh, also known as 'Tarapad Sir', received a lifetime achievement award.
He joined the Hitoishi School in Faridpur in the 1953, but in 1959, he started teaching at Faridpur High School and continued his long days of teaching here.
National professor Anisuzzaman handed over the award and uttariya to the awardee’s daughter-in-law Moumita Ghosh as the 90-year-old teacher could not come to the ceremony due to illness.
“Despite worrying news in higher educational institutes recently, we become inspired to know that students still venerate their teachers from school life,” Professor Anisuzzaman said.
“This honour is not only for the awardees, but it also goes to all the teachers. I thank the organisers for such an exceptional programme and hope this will continue,” he added.
Recipients of the other awards are: former teacher of Jashore's Shommiloni Institution Tarapada Das, head teacher of Biddyamoyi Government Girls' School of Mymensingh Nashima Akhter, former head teacher of Rangamati Government High School Nirupa Dewan, former head teacher of Gaibandha’s Shibram Adarsha Primary School Md Nurul Alam, head teacher of Ransinghpur Government Primary School in Dhobaura upazila of Mymensingh and the craftsman of female footballers of that school Mofiz Uddin, former teacher of 30 number government primary school of Satkhira Abdus Salam, teacher of Auliabad Mazar Dakhil Madrasa of Tangail Abul Hashem Mia, teacher of Chittagong's Jamalkhan Kusumkumari City Corporation Girls' High School Lutfunnisa Khanam, head teacher of Bagerhat’s Karapara Sarat Chandra Secondary School Asadul Kabir, former head teacher of Brahmanbaria Fatehpur KG Multipurpose High School Shahjahan Kabir and former head teacher of Chittagong's Agrabad Government Colony High School Shafiq Ullah.
Serving and retired teachers from primary and secondary schools who are at least in their 40s were initially nominated by their students and based on the primary nomination.
Jury board member and former chairman of Jashore Eduction Board Amirul Alam said, “It was a difficult task to select the best 12 among over 1,500 teachers nominated by their students. We emphasised creativity and non-involvement in coaching business while selecting the best teachers.”
Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman said, "We have always tried to do something for the unsung heroes who are dedicated to the welfare of the society. One of the milestones of this year was undertaking this ‘Priyo Shikkhok Shommanona’ initiative with IPDC Finance."
He highlighted different events of Prothom Alo, such as providing stipends to the students in need, organising events like math Olympiad, Bhasa Protijog, programming competition as well as campaign against drug menace, acid throwing.
“Our farmers were instrumental behind attaining food autarchy, we honoured them. Teachers are one of the main force in nation building, so we decided to honour them," he added.
Managing director and CEO of IPDC Finance Limited Momin Ul Islam said, “We don’t have any chief guest at today’s event as all the teachers are our chief gusts. Often we get recognised in our career but seldom we take a moment to express our gratitude to our true mentors, who are behind everything. This initiative is to express our feeling of gratitude."
Prothom Alo associate editor Anisul Hoque in his speech said, “We want to pay respect to all the teachers around the world before the Teachers’ Day, which is on 5 October.”
United International University vice-chancellor (VC) Chowdhury Mofizur Rahman, Prime Asia University VC Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, IUBAT VC Abdur Rab, former VC of Begum Rokeya University of Rangpur AKM Nurunnabi, national cricketer and member of parliament Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Central Women's University (CWU) VC Parveen Hasan, Sir John Wilson School principal Sabrina Shaheed and Residential Model College’s former vice-principal Ferdowsi Ara handed over the awards.
Mashrafe said, “Teachers have created today’s Bangladesh. This programme reminds me of my school teachers.”
Singer Aditi Mohsin and Dinat Jahan Munni enthralled the audience with their songs at the programme.