Madrasah-E-Alia, Dhaka

ife especially in the field of education. A deputation of respectable Muslims of Kolkata met Lord Warren Hastings, the Governor General of India with an appeal to start an educational institution with a view to imparting religious education to the Muslims of Bengal. Accordingly, Alia Madrasah was founded in October 1780 (Saban 1194). It was started in a rented building at Baitakkhana near Shialdah with only 40 students. Mullah Majduddin, a renowned scholar of Arabic was appointed the first preceptor (Professor). In British India Alia Madrasah was the first educational institution established by the government. This institution was mainly established with a view to educate the children of the elite classes of Muslim families to enable them to enter into govt. In a few years modern subjects like Astronomy, Law, Mathematics, Philosophy, Natural Philosophy, Theology, and Rhetoric were incorporated into the curricula of Alia Madrasah. Up to 1820 there were no examination systems in the Pak-Indo subcontinent. In 1821 the executive committee of the Madrasah introduced general annual examination system. In 1826 English subject was introduced in Madrasah. In 1907 all the existing classes of the Madrasah were standardized and full fledged Hadith courses were opened. The Revolt of 1857, in which the Muslims largely participated, set up doubts in the minds of the British rulers about the allegiance of the Muslims to the British rule, and the government opted to stop allocating funds for Alia Madrasah. This was a testing time for the Madrasah. But before long the institution regained its trustworthiness in the eyes of the British rulers. Several commissions were formed that suggested various reform measures for the improvement of education in the Madrasah. Alia Madrasah from Kolkata to Dhaka

Alia Madrasah again encountered serious problems during the partition of India in 1947. In keeping with the decision of the separation council, Alia Madrasah with all its books and manuscripts, assets and estates were transferred to Dhaka, the new capital of East Pakistan, now the capital of Bangladesh, at the premises of the Islamic Intermediate College. A new specious site for the Madrasah and its hostel was selected at Bakhshibazar in Dhaka and for construction of suitable buildings a cost of Rs 3,30,000 was estimated, which was sanctioned by the then govt. The foundation stones of the new Madrasah building and its hostel were laid down by the then Chief Minister of East Pakistan Mr. Ataur Rahman Khan on 11 March, 1958. The building of the Madrasah and its hostel were completed in 1960 and the Madrasah was shifted to its own building in 1961. A Brief Account of the Madrasah

Hostel, Auditorium, and Mosque

The Madrasah hostel is a magnificent three storied building to the eastern side of the Madrasah with an accommodation of 283 borders. A superintendent and an Asstt. Superintendent are engaged for overall supervision of the hostel affairs. To the southern side of this building there is a wide playground for the Madrasah students. There is a large auditorium on the ground floor of the academic building and a specious mosque on the second floor of the same building. Library

Madrasah-e-Alia, Dhaka is enriched with a renowned library with the richest and rarest collection of books. The Kolkata Madrasah library was established in 1820. When the Fort William College was dissolved, a large number of books belonging to the college were transferred to the possessions of Alia Madrasah library. The library was further enriched by 244 manuscripts and 460 printed books donated by the heirs of Maulana Mir Mohammed of Mangalkot Bardwan which are still preserved in a separate section called ‘Mangolkot Section.’ Researchers from home and abroad very often come to the library and consult the collections here. Computer Lab

A modern computer lab equipped with 10 computers and accessories provides training to the students on various office and application software free of cost to enable them to keep in touch with this modern technology. The lab is run under the supervision of an experienced teacher. Science Lab

There are 4 well-equipped science labs for the Alim and Dakhil level students where they gain practical knowledge of various branches of science. Seminar

Apart from the library, there is a full-fledged seminar having necessary books and journals for the daily use of the students. Academic Activities

At the beginning of each session, a detailed study plan is prepared on all subjects and classes are arranged and lessons are imparted accordingly. Class tests are taken every 15 days to evaluate the progress of the students in all subjects/courses. Seminars and training sessions are held every now and then. Correspondence with Guardians

The Madrasah authority contacts the parents/guardians of the students by correspondence on a regular basis in

order to inform the progress of their children/wards. Suggestions from the parents/guardians are sought and considered from time to time for the overall development of the Madrasah. Teacher-Student Meeting

Every two months a teacher-student meeting is arranged at the madrasah auditorium in which discussions are made on various issues like academic environment, students’ issues, their conducts etc. The teachers persuade the students into the path of righteousness and discipline in these gatherings. Extra-curricular Activities

The madrasah students frequently engage themselves into various extra-curricular activities. Debate and extempore speech competition between the students are held every year. In yearly cultural competition, students prove their acumen in recitation from the holy Quran, hamdh, naat, Islamic songs and various other disciplines. The annual sports competition is a usually big event hosted by the madrasah in which dignitaries from the govt. and intelligentsia are invited. Study tours and picnics are also regularly arranged for the students of the madrasah. List of honorable principals Madrasah-e-Alia , Calcutta & Dhaka

1780-1850 European Secretaries

1850-1927 European Principals

Name :

Dr.A. Sprenger , M.A
Sir William Nassalees ,L.L.D
J.Staklip, M.A
Henry Ferdinand Blockman,MA. Dr.A.F.R. Hornel , C.I.E.Phd. H.Prothero,M.A. (2nd time )
F.J Roe,M.A
Dr.A.F.R. ( 3rd time )
F.J Roe,M.A ( 2nd time )
Dr.A.F.R. ( 4th time )
F.J Roe,M.A ( 3rd time )
F.C.Hall.B.A.S.SC
Sir.Earl.Stain, Ph.D. H.A.Stork,B.A
L.T.Colonel.G.S.A.Ranking.M.D.I.MS. H.A.Stork,B.A
Sir.Edward Denison Rass,Ph.D. H.E.Stepleton.B.A.BSc. Sir.Edward Denison Rass,Ph.D. (2nd time )
Mr. Chapman. ( 3rd time )
Mr. Alexander Hamilton Harley.M.A. J.M.Botomely,B.A. ( 2nd time)

1927-2011 Muslim Principals

27.Samsul Ulama Kamaluddin Ahmad ,M.A.I.E.S

28. Samsul Ulama Khan Bahadur Md.Hedait Hossain, Ph.D.

29. Samsul Ulama Khan Bahadur Md.Musa,M.A.

30 Khan Bahadur Md.Yusuf,M.A.

31. Samsul Ulama Khan Bahadur Md.Musa,M.A.

32. Khan Bahadur Md.Musa,M.A.

33. Khan Bahadur Md.Ziaul Hoque,M.A.

34.Moulvi Shaikh Sharafuddin,M.A. L.L.B.

35. Moulvi Maqbul Ahmad,M.A.

36.Moulana Hafez Abdul Hafeez,M.A

37. Moulana Md. Abdul Latif Faruqui ,M.A

38. Moulana Sayed A.L.Md.Lutful Haque ,M.A,Ph.D.

39. Jalaluddin ,M.A.M.M

40. Yaqub Sharif ,M.M.A. Gold Medalist.

41. Dr. A.K.M Ayub Ali.M.M.M.A.Ph.D.

42. Gold Medalist.

43. Moulana Abdul Mannan ,M.M.M.A

44. (a)Md. Eunus Sikder ,M.A. 1st class 1st class. ( Incharge )

(b)Md. Eunus Sikder ,M.A. 1st class 1st class.

45. Prof. Abdul Mannan ,M.M.M.A. 1st class.

46. Salahuddin,M.M.M.A ( Incharge )

47.Prof. Sa’adullah M.M.B.A( Hons) 1st class.M.A. 1st class.

48.Prof. Muhammad Mansurur Rahman.

49. Moulana Nur Muhammad,M.M.M.F.M.A1st class ( Incharge )

50. Hasibur Rahman ( Officer Incharge )

51. Mulana Muhammad Yeasin.

52. A.K.M Ishaque Ali ( Incharge )

53. Muhammad Islam Ghani.

54. Alamgir Rahman ( Incharge )

55. Dr. A.K.M Yaqub Husain...