Remians walk down memory lane at DRMSC reunion

Former students of Dhaka Residential Model College, one of Bangladesh’s most acclaimed high schools, rekindled old friendships and shared cherished memories as they reunited at their alma mater for a grand reunion on Friday.

For the nostalgic former students, who came along with their families, coming back to the residential school was a sort of homecoming.

The day-long event started with breakfast, devoured with scoops of nostalgia by thousands of students as they relived shared history.

“This institution is just like home to us. I spent six years here. We keep coming here every few months. You will find many students here who have spent more years of their lives in the hostel of this institution than in any other address,” said Tauhid Osman, a student of the 1994 HSC batch.

Many other former students spoke at the event. Freedom fighter Habibul Alam Bir Bikram was one of them.

A student of the 2005 HSC batch, Milan Siddiqui came to the campus after a decade.  Indeed, it was him who took the initiative this year for the gathering of his batch mates.

After spending a fun-filled day with old friends, he told bdnews24.com, “I have reinvented myself.”

“Because of busy schedules, I couldn’t come here all these years. But after coming here today, I felt I should come here more often.”

Journalist Shakil Hasan, also of the 2005 batch, too attended the reunion.

“During my college days, I used to stay at Nazrul Islam House. Sohag Khan was my roommate there for two years. Meeting him after so many years was so delightful. We went to that room that we had shared and spent the entire day with old friends. This feeling cannot be explained,” he said.

Rajshahi Medical College’s head of the forensic department Dr Jobaidur Rahman recalled, “My association with this school has been since 1968. I have not gone to any other school or college. This school is hearth and home for me.”

He passed his HSC from this institution in 1979.

The newly elected General Secretary of Old Remians Welfare Association, Moshiur Rahman passed SSC from the school in 1977.

One of the chief organisers of the event, Rahman, joined his friends in reminiscing the past amid his hectic event-management activities.

“This year’s event is really unique. While 2000 to 2500 people attended the past events, this time around 4500 people attended it,” he said.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu passed his HSC from this institution in 1982.

He has been elected president of the Old Remains Association, the organisation of the former students of the school.

“Only education is not good enough for one to thrive in life. One also needs to acquire leadership qualities. This institution imparted this lesson to us,” the state minister said at the reunion.

Addressing the current students of the school he urged them to be “good citizens” apart from being good students.

“This institution is creating good citizens for the country. It is teaching students how to become good leaders,” he said.

Freedom fighter Habibul Alam Bir Bikram recalled the day the school was established.

“On May 8, 1960, when the inauguration ribbon was cut, I was there.”

“Apart from good education this school also imparts lessons on how to become a model in other spheres of life,” he said.

“Before leaving, we will clean the campus. We will be a ‘model’ even today,” he added.

The Dhaka Residential Model School was set up at capital’s Mohammadpur in 1960, modelled after public schools of United Kingdom.

The range of activities including cultural programmes added further zing to the event.