DEPT. OF ARABIC AND ISLAMIC STUDIES

MD. RAFIKUL ISLAM

Welcome to the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Govt. Edward College Pabna. Arabic is one of the oldest subject of this college. It was launched when the college had been established in 1898 AD. The founder of this college is Shree Gopal Chandra Lahiri, the famous educationist at that time. He served as a founder principal of this college as well. It was named as EDWARD COLLEGE in honour of the memory of Indian emperor, EDWARD 7^th in 1911 AD.

At the begining of this college there were eight subjects, such as English, History, Logic, Mathematics, Science, Culture, Persian and Arabic. Some educational scholars like Shree Gopal Chandra Mitra (MA), Shree Ashutosh Roy (MA), Hory Narayan Kabbo Tirtho, Moulovi Shiraj-Ul-Haque and other scholars rendered their valuable services as the teachers of this college.

Moulovi Shiraj-Ul-Haque, a distinguished Islamic scholar and well versed in different languages taught the students Arabic and Persian. He was the first teacher of Arabic. The students of this subject were taught by this scholar for a long time. Islamic Studies was also added as a subject along with Arabic. At present it is named as “Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies”. It is consisted with two subjects , One is Arabic and other is Islamic Studies. This Department is situated in Philosophy building of this college.

There are eighteen departments of Edward College. Higher secondary certificate course, BA (pass), Honors and Masters courses are affiliated here. A large number of students are getting honors and masters degree from this college under National University every year. Arabic and Islamic Studies is only one exceptional department which has no honors and masters courses here. Only HSC and BA(pass) are affiliated. Masters part-1 and part-2 (private) in Islamic Studies were affiliated under National University since the session of 2014. After this time this masters part-1 and part-2 (private) in Islamic Studies course was closed in an unknown reason.Edward College authority were paying the affiliation fee of masters part-1 and part-2 in Islamic Studies but National University authority did not affiliate this subject til now. Honors and masters regular courses should be affiliated and this process is going on.

Now Arabic and Islamic Studies is a renowned department of this college. Only three teachers are guiding approximately 300 students studying in different courses. Among them one is Assistant Professor and two are lecturers. Posts of professor, associate professors, Assistant professors and lecturers should be created in this department of this college. The students of this department are happy with the teaching technique and method of their respected teachers. Science its inception teachers have always been in close contact with the students, look after their academic and personal wellbeing to make them worthy citizen.

The study on Arabic and Islamic Studies are going on in accordance with prescribed syllabus of National University in this department. Many valuable books and rare resources on Arabic and Islamic Studies are preserved for students’ study in the library which is one of the biggest and oldest libraries of Bangladesh. Every year a large number of students are taking part in several competitive examinations after completing their courses successfully. The result is remarkable.

The department is always ready to run all the programmes smoothly. Teacher-student relationship is very good here. As the department holds a religious responsibility, it tries its best to ensure every endeavour to develop leadership quality among the students and make them practical persons of the society. At present three teachers with brilliant academic background are teaching in this department. They are sincere and devoted to their profession. They are  :