Our History
Government Permission Received on
April 29, 2013
With Government permission received on April 29, 2013, and with hopes of beginning the University in a small way in 2014, it is worthwhile to understand how Holy Cross Fathers got to this point. This short write-up is not a detailed history of the events leading to the founding of the university. Fr. Adam Pereira, CSC, has assembled such an outline. This rather is a picture of the different influences that have brought they this far.
A talk of starting a University
Very early in the history of the educational ministry of Holy Cross Fathers in Bangladesh, there was a talk of starting a University. The Notre Dame College was then staffed almost exclusively by expatriate missionaries who came with advanced degrees in hand to teach. The College began in 1949 at the Intermediate level and in the years to the Liberation War (1971) was small in size and well-staffed with such missionaries.
After Independence
After Independence everything changed to Bengali-medium and almost all of the expatriates withdrew and there were only then a few local CSC priests called to do a variety of ministries. The College got down to 2 men full-time. Any thought of a university was long gone. There was concern to keep the college going.
The question of a university rose again on a variety of tracks
- An outside evaluation of the College suggested it to be considered.
- The Bishops of Bangladesh raised the issue – to have the Church present at this level and to witness in this way.
- The alumni of Notre Dame College on several occasions strongly recommended to the Holy Cross Fathers a vertical expansion of the institution of the university level.
- The Government announced a new education policy, basically going over to the American system: Primary School: 1 to class 8; High School: classes 9-12; College (Hons.): 4 year degree.
If this were implemented, the College (Notre Dame) would need to be changed completely. The present classes 11 and 12 would only be the last two years of high school. A fourth year would have to be added to the present three-year degree (pass) course. The College started planning how classes 9 and 10 could be added and what it would mean for the College to be a high school.
The Crucial Question
The crucial question was adding another year to the degree program. With the gaps in the system, the four years would take six or more years.
The Holy Cross Fathers began to think that if they were able to start a private university, they could create their own syllabus, hold their own exams, confer their own degrees and do four years in four years.
When it became known
When it became known that Holy Cross Fathers were thinking again about it, a number of people came forward to encourage them: Education leaders, Community leaders, College Alumni, the Papal Nuncio (Archbishop Joseph Marino), Government people, the German Embassy, etc.
The idea picked up impetus. They felt that, with help from Notre Dame College, the idea might be feasible. Maybe they would start small and let it grow. they became more optimistic.
Holy Cross Fathers soon realized
The Holy Cross Fathers soon realized what a complicated process was involved in making application to the University Grants Commission, securing in the University’s name land donated by the College, establishing the required reserve fund.
The final application when fully completed is a book almost 6 inches thick.
We have finally received permission
We have finally received permission, secured the land, made a design for the University Building and are putting together the practical aspects of beginning, especially working out with the College the details of sharing space, finances, scheduling, etc.
The effort is underway
The effort is underway to seek the funding to build the University building, looking at both foreign and local benefactors.
They have come this far and are determined and committed to go forward. They count on the blessings of God and the help of many interested supporters. Notre Dame University Bangladesh is a long-cherished dream coming true. There is still so much work ahead of them but they keep reminding themselves that “If there is a will, there is a way”. They, with the support and encouragement of many, have the will and are seeking the way.
