Air-conditioned and modern multimedia-equipped classrooms. A vast playground covered with green grass, an international standard swimming pool, separate fields for football and cricket. Separate studios for learning dance and music, and a language club for mastering foreign languages.
Along with classroom teaching, a student will get all these facilities at Bashundhara Public School and College. This international-standard institution is different from any other school in the country. Because, along with improving the quality of education, here students are given the environment and education to be developed as global citizens.
Along with academic activities, emphasis is placed on extracurricular activities. For this, students do not have to go outside school separately to develop their creativity. It is the dream of all students and their parents in the country to get admission to such a school. Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, Chairman of the renowned Bashundhara Group, is the dreamer of this world-class school.
This attractive school campus is located on 10 bighas of land in Block N of Bashundhara Residential Area in the capital Dhaka. The architectural design of the seven-story school building was created by famous architect Mohammad Foyez Ullah.
Under the national curriculum, both Bangla medium and English version classes are conducted here. Although the school started last year with admissions from Nursery to Class Eight, from next January the academic activities of Class Nine and from June the academic activities of Class Eleven will start.
According to the national curriculum rules, in the year of beginning, admission was given up to Class Eight. Meanwhile, the school authority has received government approval for admission in Class Nine. There will be two groups in Class Nine: Science and Business Studies. Similarly, from next June, college activities will begin. The college will also have both Bangla medium and English version.
This institution is as attractive from the outside as it is inside. Its interior design has also been made beautifully. Sufficient light and air can enter. For the transportation of students from other areas of Dhaka outside Bashundhara Residential Area, the school has 8 buses. Each air-conditioned classroom has a large multimedia screen. Each classroom is arranged according to the age and knowledge of the students. In addition, there are conference rooms, an attractive library, a modern science lab, a cafeteria, a large auditorium, a medical room, and other facilities.
Along with study, to encourage students, the school has basketball and volleyball courts, a tennis court, a hockey ground, badminton, kabaddi, table tennis, and futsal facilities. Skilled trainers have been arranged to train students in sports. No other educational institution in the country has such specialized and large-scale sports facilities for students.
Along with teaching national curriculum subjects, there are separate teachers and classes for developing students’ creativity in painting, dance, and music. There is a modern computer club. There are also advanced science laboratories and a medical inspection room for sudden illness of students. Counseling is also available for mental problems.
A visit to Bashundhara Public School and College shows that the day begins with assembly. Students stand in line under the guidance of teachers in discipline. After the national anthem and oath, they go in lines to their classrooms. Before entering the classroom, students confirm their presence digitally with a face ID punch system. During a nursery (Bangla version) class, it was seen that a teacher was teaching children with sincerity in a joyful environment on a large multimedia screen. Teachers were teaching children with various toys. Nearby in the art room, students of another class were engrossed in painting. Painting teacher Sabiha Sharmin said, “All necessary arrangements for drawing are kept here. From Class One to Class Eight, students are learning drawing in the art room. One day a week students learn drawing in their designated time.”
Each class of the school has four sections. There is a digital ID card system for students. By using this card, students can avail bus service, pay cafeteria and tuition fees. Again, students must use this card to confirm leaving the school premises.
Principal Brigadier General (Retd.) Md. Anisur Rahman of Bashundhara Public School and College said, “Along with textbook education, we have art, music, and dance studios. There are ample opportunities for sports. In this respect, the school is different from other institutions. Along with teaching creative subjects in the academic routine, creative subjects are also taught separately on Fridays and Saturdays. Those who are skilled and interested in creative education also participate in separate sessions. For this, no student needs to go outside school to learn these subjects.”
Each class can teach up to 40 students. For each subject, the school has specialist teachers. There is also a large auditorium with 450 seats and modern sound systems. A modern technology computer lab is arranged for students. The school also has a very beautiful, well-organized, and rich library. In addition, a modern language club is being set up in the school. According to the initial plan, four languages will be taught there: English, French, Arabic, and Chinese. Later, more languages are planned to be added.
Md. Farzad Rahman, a Class Four (English version) student, said, “The campus of this school is quite large. There are many facilities here. The teachers are also very sincere. Our class has both a digital board and a whiteboard. We study with joy.”
Dr. Selim Reza, a teacher of North South University and father of Class Four (English version) student Md. Siam Reza, said, “My son used to study in an English medium school before. But I felt from inside that my child should study under the national curriculum. Not finding such a suitable school, I admitted my son to Bashundhara Public School and College. It is a high-quality school with skilled teachers. After taking admission here, Siam’s talent and character have been developing in an orderly and beautiful way. We are very satisfied with his intellectual development. The creative subjects outside textbooks that exist here are not available in many schools. My son loves the free swimming lessons. In Dhaka, you won’t find such a large playground like Bashundhara’s in other schools.”
To develop sports, the school also has an international standard swimming pool and a 25-meter practice pool. Another swimming pool is under construction. In addition, there is a volleyball ground, squash court, long tennis ground, basketball, badminton, and a full-fledged shooting complex. Regular football practice is going on in the football field. Practice is held even after school hours. On Fridays and Saturdays, arrangements are made for modern training for students.
Md. Ashikuzzaman, the sports teacher of the school, who graduated in Physical Education and Exercise Science from Jashore University of Science and Technology, said, “Here are several trainers, including national award-winning athletes, to train students. As part of the regular routine, we keep track of the physical development of students. For this, along with regular classes, there are warm-up and cool-down sessions. Some cardio sessions are also done. Through sports, we are going to bring a revolution in this school. To increase children’s creativity, we want to make them world-class in any sport of their choice. We have an indoor cricket stadium, net practice ground, and two football fields. A futsal ground has been constructed. There are three basketball courts. To ensure modern sports facilities, we have included sports biomechanics and sports physiological development. Students learn swimming two to three days a week. Dhaka lacks healthy recreation. There are no playgrounds. Children are confined indoors. We are giving children the opportunity to play outside the home. For this reason, sports are given enough importance in this school.”
Assistant teacher Md. Jahangir Alam said, “Our aim is to transform this educational institution into international standards. If we call the sports section of the school a mini sports academy, it will not be an exaggeration. Here students will not only play for fun, but also, if anyone wants to build a career from here in the future, we want to ensure those facilities too. There are geysers in the swimming pool for swimming in winter. Every year there will be several types and stages of educational tours in the school. Following international standards, one teacher teaches 30 students here.”
Along with ensuring modern quality education, this institution gives utmost priority to moral, ethical, physical, and intellectual development. That is why education-related and informed people believe that the international-standard educational institution “Bashundhara Public School and College” will make a special contribution in making the next generation of citizens more competent.
Knowledge, morality, and skills are our pillars
— Brigadier General (Retd.) Md. Anisur Rahman, Principal, Bashundhara Public School and College
Principal Brigadier General (Retd.) Md. Anisur Rahman said, “The school has been established based on the national curriculum. Chairman of Bashundhara Group Ahmed Akbar Sobhan wants to develop the future generation as suitable and competent citizens. Along with studies, this generation’s children can use their skills in future workplaces to become strong-minded individuals. At the same time, with the aim that this generation can contribute at national and international levels, Bashundhara Public School and College has been established. Along with academic subjects, sufficient emphasis is placed on extracurricular activities. Our aim is to make students not only knowledgeable in their class-based learning but also humane and moral individuals. We want to introduce students to the trends currently prevailing in the world, so that in the future they can adapt themselves internationally. Knowledge, morality, and skills—these three are our pillars.”
Principal Md. Anisur Rahman said, “Teachers of Bashundhara Public School and College are graduates from Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Professionals, North South University, and BRAC University. Teachers are recruited here through much scrutiny. Just as there are teachers with 30 years of experience, there are also those who have just graduated from university and started teaching. Teachers from reputed and renowned English medium institutions have also come here, as well as teachers from Abdur Rauf and Noor Mohammad School and College.”
Brigadier General (Retd.) Md. Anisur Rahman said, “We have been able to recruit skilled teachers to make the national curriculum syllabus more smooth and attractive to students. In terms of teachers, this school is different from many others. The facilities of this school, from classrooms to infrastructure, are all exceptional. The aesthetic design of this school will impress everyone. All our laboratories are modern technology. Along with this, all modern equipment has been provided. The extracurricular activities and sports facilities here are completely unique. Students here do not need to go elsewhere to acquire skills in creative education or sports. For this, I call this school a ‘Talent Den.’”
Principal Anisur Rahman also said, “It is the wish of Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan that 100% of the students of this school will learn swimming. We are trying to implement that. Already we have made separate lists of those who cannot swim, those who are weak in swimming, and those who know swimming. Those who will be interested will participate in swimming learning sessions in the morning and afternoon on holidays through trainers. Most of the trainers of this institution are from Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP). Swimming has been made compulsory for everyone from nursery to Class Eight. There is one swimming pool for learning swimming and three more for training. This school has two football fields. In the afternoon, students practice football in the fields. Soon we are going to start Taekwondo.”
Emphasis on creative subjects alongside studies
— Rowza Imam, Student, Class Five, English Version
Rowza Imam, a Class Five (English version) student of Bashundhara Public School and College, said she has never seen such an exceptional school like this before. In her words: “Before this, I lived in Sylhet for seven years, but I did not find such a high-quality school like Bashundhara Public School there. After taking admission to this school, I don’t need to go anywhere else separately to learn singing, dancing, or painting. From my perspective, Bashundhara Public School is different from other schools in the country.”
She also said: “In this school, emphasis is given on creative subjects like dance, swimming, and music along with textbooks. These help in developing our creativity. We are very happy that our Principal Sir has given us the opportunity to engage in various creative activities alongside studies.
In most educational institutions in the country where there is no swimming pool, Bashundhara Public School and College has given enough importance to this. Because if we know swimming, it will help us in any danger in the future. In this school, there are many day-based programs such as Independence Day, Victory Day, and Pahela Baishakh where we get the chance to participate. This increases our creativity. As far as I know, there is no opportunity to participate in so many creative activities in other institutions in the country. The most important thing is that our Principal and other teachers give us a lot of time, which helps in the development of our talents. This creates a beautiful relationship between teachers and students.”
