My schooling continued at Brahmandi k.k.high school ,thereafter and I did fare in my class and always stood first in the class. I secured primary & secondary scholarsip & prizes and participitated in school sports & games at sub divisional & districr level. Also got many prizes & certificates as a sportsman I joined scouting and represented at scout jamboree as captain at Sylhet.I remember I bought a cane hat and gave as a gift to my brother bulbul who got selected for Sargodha PAF School and flew to Pakistan wearing the cane hat like smartly dressed boy.

STUDENT LIFE

I joined Matijheel Central Govt High School  in class IX in 1964 when my father was engaged in the construction works of Kamalapur Railway Station with his partner Sirajul Islam Chowdhury of Chittagong.I stayed with him in the camp and attended school and also went to get coaching in afternoon by math teacher , Mr Hannan at Khilgaon.I walked along the railway track to the residence & camp site.

Suddenly my father left the site and I was left stranded. I attended my classes from Narsingdi for few days .One day I was late at the class when our head master Mr Bazlee was taking class and he was surprised and asked the teachers to arrange  my accommodation at the school library still my final exam is finished and also requested my Bangla teacher Mr Ismail  to arrange food at his house regularly.I stayed at the school library at first foor and continued my preparation for SSC exam. One teacher from Raipura was staying at the library then and ask me one day a QUIZ......Find out how much paddy will be there at the fiftieth quota when you start to keep 2, 2x2,4x4,16x16 ......pieces of paddy grain at the first ,second,third & fourth quota one by one  ?

I remember the calculation took me a while and I found that the results is almost infinite and  beyond any comprehension too.I was told that this quiz would enlarge my vision in life and can help me to think big! It remind me of the importance of brain thinking and it capacity building with maths !

I did fare well in the SSC exam and stood first amongst the boys & got STAR marks with 19^th position in Dhaka Board (1964).

I got admitted in Dhaka College and stayed in North Hostel with Maswod & Manzu with me as room mates.I was amongst the talented boys of the country and classes were taken by famous teachers . .Noman Sir,Shawkat Osman Sir,Dr Asraf Siddiq  and many more brilliant teachers used to take our classes one class per week per teacher per subjects!. Bangla tutorial class were also taken by Shawkat Osman sir I remember in one class Osman sir marked a boy at rear of the class with red tee shirt and showed to all of the students..Look one boy only with full of life with us.He used to advocate to be colourful in life and enjoy life as it comes.We all were wearing white shirt and payjama that was our college dress.

Hostel foods were served twice daily.Rice bowl were full but curry was limited by cup with one piece of fish/chicken.Dal was free of course! We used to go to new market in the  evening and got our breakfast chira or bread besides looking at the girls ....! Prof Jalal Uddin was the principal and was staying at college campus with his beautiful daughters and all the students were to glance at them while passing by their house at the campus.We did also went to movies at Balaka the then best movie house. Modhumita,Gulistan,Naz ,the known AC cenema houses then  far away from New Market. We did also go round Salimullah hall, Dhaka University Campus  ,Ramna Race Course ,BUET, Eden College,Home Economics College Medical College,Azimpur at that time with sprawling green large trees along side the roads.Kisnachura was abundantly all around with lush green meadows

Dhaka College was then only college with the top grade  students studying in the undergraduate courses of erstwhile East Pakistan. We were proud to be in a student of the college. A brief history of Dhaka College: Dhaka College ,one of the earliest and most prestigious institutions in the country, has reached a point that many imagine only in their fantasy.

This year 2011.would be memorable for many as the college enters the grand gallery of 170years.Initially established as a school in 1830,it rose to a college status in 1841.From then on it moved to offer both bachelors and masters courses to meet the needs of the higher education seekers. But college’s best shot has to be its HSC programme where students almost regularly topped the board examinations. Comming by a point as it did ,one feels drawn to rewind the pages of history and rummage through all that made the 170 years epic run deeply treasured.

While I was staying in the student North Hall, my elder sister also got admitted in the Botani Department  in Dhaka University. I used to visit her regularly at Curzon Hall the then Science Facultiy block and also arranged a seat at Rokeya Hall after much efforts.All was well,then one day my father went to see me at North Hall,Dhaka College to convey that he arranged marriage for my sister and we must agree & participate. I did put aside my math exam to attend the hurriedly arrange marriage at Narsingdi.My sister was married to Mr Abdus Subhan,senior sub editor,Pakistan Times and a lot of dignitaries did attend the marriage ceremony. Mr Ataur Rahman Khan,ex PM,Abidur Rahman , journalist & local elites attended. My sister have to accompany him to Dhaka & halt at Abidur Rahman’s place in Dhanmondi and later flew to Rawalpindi with my sister.

I was nervous and shaky all through due to suddenness of the happenings but stirred me on course for my  final exam at Dhaka College and scored Star Marks in most of the science subjects with distinction in 1964. My parents were happy and I had to try to join thE Study Course of my choice and seek admission in Physics ,Economics of DU,BUET and applied for Inter Wing  Scholarships at West Pakistan Universities.I did succeed in all but choose finally to University of Peshawar  to study engineering under  Pakistan Council Inter Wing Scholarship Scheme in 1968.

My first Flight with PIA to Lahore,Rawalpindi and finally to Peshawar Airport was a thrilling & chilling experience.It was in the late afternoon in misty foggy winter I landed in this land of Pathans.I was cordially received by Asst Director of Pakistan Council,Pehsawar and taken to hotel for the night.Next day I was taken by road to Peshawar University Campus - a gateway to a township in the valley along the road to Khyber Pass .The first impression was  very refreshing and the bird’s eye view was breathtaking allaround. The Road  leads to the Gate of a  campus with a planned university township of several square km with living quarters built in for the residents –students,teachers and officers & staffs.It was planned & self sufficient township. Grand Convocation Halls with sprawling gardens,lawns and hedges of flowers,trees with its clock tower welcomes all visitors at the entrance.

University departments are built at the two sides of the main roads of the campus with clearly marked roads to the departments,colleges,markets,cinema hall,libray.hospitals,playgrounds & ultimately to forest department witha huge rose garden with all varieties of roses.

My resident hall was for international students with independent single room for each students and I have students from Iran,Afganistan,Turkey,Middle East,Africa My Engineering Faculty was very near and only five hundred yards from the hall.

In the misty winter morning we used to walk slowly on the pebble road to attend the classes of the designated section .While In the class all my friends would cheer up on my entry and used to embrace me warmly one by one.Class Teachers were also from local zaminderfamily and have well educated foreign degrees. Classes were meant for twenty students only with two our lecture on each subjects and would break up in the early afternoon.

On return to our hall we rush to dinning hall for foods  meat curry ,shak curry,dal curry was normal and with occasional brown basmati polao rice specially on Fridays.However in the late evening we used to go out to orange meadows and take sugan cane,oranges,kenos,grapes ,anar juices with chapli kakab,shikh kabab and korai tikka of lamb roasts. Sometime we would take double decker bus or tonga to go to  city centre ,drink kaoa and fresh juices of many kinds .Beside we went to cinema to watch  movies staring  Zeba, Wahid Murad or Mohammad Ali Shamim Ara,Shabnam Nadim and morebover Rangila!

At theb university I joined University cricket team as regual player and also attend special foreign language in German.Prof Mrs Adil a german lady would conduct the full two year diploma courses. While I studied iI secured first position in first year exam and also got selected to join 8-member student  delegation to Germany at the invitation of Bavarian Education Minister and the German Goverment.The tour was a cultural exchange programme and we had to practice songs and dances for staging and that to including song dance –Amar Maza Bhai Shaiza Bhai ......Mas kalander  and also a paper on history of the then East Pakistan in German Language.Engr Mohmammed Ali was our instructor for Bangla Dance & songs at the department.

Our Trip started from Peshawar University with Mrs Adil Khan as Head of delegation with eight member student delegation  .I was the lone member from East Pakistan .Amongst our delegation  was Imtiaz  Durani,  Pravez, Zunaid, Pasha, Hadi &  Shirin Safdar .We didi represent Pakistan & Peshawar Universitydlegation  reached Karachi by PIA  on way to Germany.I was hosted by Mr Lampel & family for orientation with german culture and was taken to parties in the evening in formal dresses and was introduced to german official & family living in Karachi.One day we have to face TV interview to tell our purpose of visits to Germany. I still remember my shyness and hasitation to talk to live cameras at that time.

Our visit started with a flight from Karachi to Frankfrut Airport by PIA and to Bon by Lutfanesha.We stayed in s cozy hotel in Bon and visited REISTAG including  Rhine river side government offices ,parliaments,homes of diplomat .We were received at the places as per scheduled programmes and also attended  formal lunch at the Resistag cafeteria overlooking the rine river.A small picturesque planned township as capital of west germany.

We have  guides and a full time coach with driver for the entire tour schedule which took us to various cities and places like,   Dortmont, Aachen, Honnover, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich. At these places we visited  historical palaces, meusiem, universities and historical sites to learn german cultures heritage. Most notable of them is the visit  to grape vine gardens along rhine river, through the Autovan to honnover humburg and to West Berlin where we stayed  at hotels for the nights.

We did cross the dividing wall through the Berlin Gate to East Berlin for a look at the other side of Germany under Communist Rule.We did go up the revoving tower of Ost Berlin to have a birds eye view of the city.

We did drank while beer and visit the ice lake and berlin opera to watch an Italian play bohemein at a grand berlin opera. We  vsited Siemen city to see for ourselves the advance research works on electronic & telephony.

We drove to frankfurt from Berlin through East Germany in one full day.

We visited MERCEDEZ BENZ to see the car production facilities and the meuseum of cars including the first car and the test track for cars to ensure safety and quality.

In Munich we visited Olympic Stadium, Berlin beer festival, vine yard, Nueswanstein Palace   near the Alps Lake bordering Switzerland .We also performed at a cultural institute and met Bavarian minister for formal lunch at the revolving restaurant at Olympic tower.He did present us books of german history & cultural book autographed & signed at the occasion.Bavaria at the foothill of Alps is lush green , picturque land habitated by colourful & strong german race. Germany was totally rebuilt with all  their heritage & culture preserved after the second world war.  We visited Dormund, Aachen, Bon  & Berlin Universities where all the excellent technical educations are imparted with high research priority for future science & technology innovation .Marks plank institute is doing pioneering works for new material sciences and physics with  ulta modern  atomic particle analyser.An Egyptian muslim scientist was at the analyser when we tip toe to visit the research centre.

While on a day long visit to Siemans andMercedez Benz we were shown models of telephone set and cars respectively under development for future marketing ie twenty years later!The meusium were  store houses of history & an unfolding of gradual development stages & the  inventors life at works.

We took a flight from Munich to Vienna by Luftnessa Airways- a city showcased with lasting history & heritage.Schonburg Palace,Opera House & riding school are a legendary masterpiece of the past.

Next stop over was in Istambul a doorway to Europe and a star studded muslim heritage and history .The Shopia Mosque and Market places are still beaconing the rich & powerful history of the Khilafat of Islam & Ottoman Empire.

The life in Peshawar University Campus was a young & vibrant one intermingle with students from different regions and nations like Pokhtoon,Punjabi,Beluchi Sindhi,Afgan,Iranian,Turkish,Arabians,Africana and Bengali !

East Pakistani students were to gether in  activities like 21 February ,Culture functions & Trips  to Swat, Murree, Landikotal, Sargodha, Risalpur, Rawalpindi, Lahore,Karachi  till reminds me of many faced of the life .The roads are mounteneous ,stony with grables and trecherous too,K2 ranges high way to Swat and khyberpass to Landikotal  are meandering with deep valley below with water falls and rivers.The people are of distinct culture and languages.

My trip to Rawalpindi to see my elder sisters family reminds me of a history of the capital of Pakistan-Islamabad.My brother in Law Abdus Shohan was the senior editor at the Pakistan Times and he worked earlier for The Dawn in Karachi.I met the veteran politicians and personalities at East Pakistan House during Ayub’s regime-that included Ataur  Rahman Khan and Manik Mia........

In March 7, 1971 when the uncertainty engulf the politics of Pakistan ,I was asked to return to Dhaka and took a flight  via Rawalpidi,Lahore to karachi I was booked by PIA Flight on 25^th Mid Night but was pushed out of the flight when entering the gate at Karach Terminal at 12 pm ...... was picked by a a brother  from our locality to shelter me for the night. Next day I went to the house of Mr Lampel and there I heard the address of Yahya khan declaring an emergency and war on rebel Bengali people.I stayed days of uncertainy in Karachi and returned to Peshawar  by train with the assistance of Mr Lampel.I was totally at dark about my family and relatives then. We were totally cut off from receiving any news about our family back home.

We did spent anxious moments and days at the university campus, only getting news from the radio BBC bangle which was also clandestine to the local resident.I met my brother at Risalpur and informed him that I try to go home via Karachi and Colombo to take care of the family at home.I managed to get ticket  only  in November  17,1971 and reached  Dhaka  via  Rawalpindi, Lahore ,Karachi Colombo by  PIA flights and it was a journey of uncertainty all the way till I reach home.

The  war of liberation reached its pick and the attacks  were all along the eastern borders and could be heard in the radio as well. The fighters- bombers were engaged in regular sorties all day long and as the days were passing by the battle of liberation gained momentum in all fronts. In the beginning of december the artillery fires are head rambling in the eastern borders with regular battles with the forces of both sides.At last the december month began with openings of fronts and penetration of the liberation forces inside country side border with the back up of artillery fires and with the people’s assistance moved quickly to take up strategic positions all around the Pakistani forces and engaged them totally.The Indian land forces moved in by passing major engagement with Pak army at all fronts. Quickly mobalised logistics supports inside the borders with frequent helicopter flights carrying men and guns to deep indside the borders.The air strike continued at the same time to contained  the vast  pak army at the different locations around the cities and towns including Dhaka. The liberation forces consisting of army men and freedom fighters entered the cities & towns ahead of Indian army and paved the way for the mitra bahini to lay sieze around

Cities & towns  around Dhaka by December 7 to December 14 and Mitra Bahini ultimately forced Pak Army  to  surrender and documents were signed by Gen Niazi  on December 15,1971 at Ramna Uddayan .The period was thrilling and exciting for all of us. We did vitually took part in the process to enable the mitra bahini forces to enter and camp at places. At Narsingdi  freedom fighters led by sector commanders entered earlier then the mitra bahini who were escorted by people through the open feilds and away from any Pak camps and carried the war loads for them .Arranged foods and made their stay safer and without any real fighting with forces. Mukti  bahini men were all around and celebrated victory with their gun fires and joyous processions .The change over was very quick and smooth since the Pak army did not confront the advancing forces and withdraw to safe camps.

After the liberation of the country every thing was uncertain and including our career studies .I participated in all interview for foreign scholarships to go abroad for studies. My career was shaped by Mr Hadi and Govt official at the secretariat.They assisted me to restore my scholarship till I complete my studies and recommended to BUET authorities to allow me to join in the final year of EE.

Life at BUET  1972-1974  :

I got myself admitted in the final year as a student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Dept by transfer of my credits from Engineering Collage of University of Peshawar. But  I was ahead of the batch mates of 1968 at Dhaka college ,who were then studying in third year at BUET.However,I was provided with allfacilities & allotted a seat at Sharwardhy Hall (Room 3012 ) .I then also  participated in all university activities .I regularly attended  classes with my batch mate in the EE . I did meticulously all tasks to retain my self active in the classes.However ,I joined university games & sports teams.I  was also included in the football team to play football for the Hall and later got selected for football team of BUET to play inter university games  .We become runner’s up in combined university football competition in 1972 and was awarded BLAZER  by BUET .I was accompanied by Reza Noor by room mate ,who was keeping the goal post for the football team. We practiced under Scottish Coach at University ground through out the year

 and was treated specially by university for our contribution to games & sports.

Dr Anwar ,ME Dept  was co ordinator   of university football team. We played at Rajshahi University, Mymensingh and Dhaka university football grounds & also main Dhaka stadium at Gulistan at National Level.

While at BUET I did join IBA to learn computer programming Language course FORTRAN  ( 12 weeks) and also Systems Engineering Course(13 weeks) and obtained certificates from IBA, Dhaka University in 1972 & 1973.The courses were required to update & complete our final year projects in Telecommunication Engineering  entitled :Digital solution  of microwave propagation in rectangular cross section and also to learn the digitisation of mathematical equations required in electrical engineering. My friend Shahed joined me in the project when I find no classmate for the difficult project in computer programming.

We used to punch cards and run the programmes in IBM 360 computer of the Atomic Energy Commission AEC in our allotted time period.It was thrilling experience and we learn the basis of computer science and its applications.Dr Patwari was my direct project guide and co ordinator.I was highly praised for my project and advocated for my Ph D programme.I got admitted in MSc in EE under stipend after completion of BSc Engineering with First Class in 1974.But Shahed later joined IBM ! But in a dramatic flip,I joined Duncun Brothers at Ally Nugger Tea Estate as Asst Manager in August02,1974 to start my career job and later joined GEC at Chittagong in August 02,1975 to begin my professional career in life.