Mirzapur Cadet College

Mirzapur Cadet College
Motto: Knowledge is Power
Location
Union: Gorai Upazilla: Mirzapur District: Tangail Bangladesh On the Dhaka-Tangail Trank Road.
Information
Established	29 November 1963 at Mirzapur Upazila in Tangail
Opened	1965
First Principal	Michael William Pitt
Color(s)	Maroon
Demonym	Mirzapurian
Area	95 acres (380,000 m2)
Houses
Fazlul Huq House	named after A. K. Fazlul Huq Search Struggle Victory Tiger Blue
Suhrawardy House	named after Hussein Shaheed Suhrawardy Vini Vidi Vici Eagle Red
Nazrul House	named after Kazi Nazrul Islam Ever Erect is My Head Lion Green

Mirzapur Cadet College (Bengali: মির্জাপুর ক্যাডেট কলেজ) is the third oldest and one of the very best cadet colleges of Bangladesh. Like other cadet colleges it follows the national curriculum prescribed by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) and gives special emphasis on extracurricular and co-curricular activities.

College monogram

Location

Mirzapur Cadet College is situated very near to the point of intersection of the 90^o9' east longitudinal line and the 24^o5.3' north latitudinal line. The river Bongshi runs through the east side of the college and on the south and south-west side the river Barinda flows. The river Footjani joins with Barinda at the west side. It is on the edge of Tangail district. The college is 8 km south of Mirzapur Upazilla proper.It is 37 km south-east from Tangail district & 48 km north-west from capital city Dhaka.

History

After the establishment of Faujderhat Cadet College in Chittagong district and Jhenaidah Cadet College in the Khulna division the foundation of Momenshahi Cadet College (former name of Mirzapur Cadet College) was being planned. The objective of this plan was to prepare army officers for the Pakistan Army.

East Pakistan period

The then president of Pakistan Field Marshal Ayub Khan took initiatives to establish the cadet college. He laid the foundation stone of Momenshahi Cadet College at the Mirzapur Upazila in the then Mymensingh District ( now Tangail district) of Bangladesh on 29 November 1963. The foundation stone is still there on the wall of the main academic building of the college.

Major General Fazle Mukim Khan formally opened the college on 9 January 1965. The first principal was Mr. Michael William Pitt.

Academic activities started from that year with three intakes, that is, intakes in Classes 7, 8 and 9.

Liberation War Period

After the 7th March Speech a violent procession by an angry mob entered into the College campus on 8th morning. Inter Cadet College Cricket Competition was going on at that time. Principal Wng Comd Sulaiman Haider Kayani closed the college then and then; and sent all the cadets home. Since then, the college remained closed. During the liberation war the college was opened in the first week of November 1971. Mr Wahab was acting principal at that time. College campus was kept under guard by Rajakars. In each House the ground floors were kept vacant and Rajakars were staying there. The cadets were send to the first floors. Presence of cadets were about 50%. Every night the sounds of firing as well as explosions were heard. Probably there was a raid by Freedom Fighters (Kaderia Bahini) occurred in one night. The College was closed on the next day , probably on 20th Nov. Following that incident, by next week a number of bridges were destroyed and the Tangail Road was cut off. The College never opened before the Independence. During the War Military camps were established by Pakistan Forces.

Bangladesh period

The foundation stone of Mirzapur Cadet College

The college started to climb to its height after the Independence. Though some tensions rose when a government plan was unveiled to terminate the cadet college system, but as a result of joint efforts by both the cadets, the teachers, the parents - and even by ordinary people, the decision was put to an hold.

Today, Mirzapur Cadet College is regarded as one of the best educational schools in the country. Each year at least 900 7th graders compete to earn the 50 seats available in this College. And, to continue the efforts of these three grandfather Cadet Colleges (Faujderhat, Mirzapur and Jhenidah Cadet College), other cadet colleges were established. Today there are 12 cadet colleges, including 3 for only girls.

As follows, more about MCC is given.

Academic system

Cadets are enrolled in the seventh grade. They continue their study for six years. The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) is the final examination to pass.

Each class generally has fifty students. The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations are administered under direct control of the Board of Education of Dhaka Division.

Departments

Physics Chemistry Biology

Mathematics Bengali English

Economics Civics History

Islamic Studies Arts and crafts Geography

In accordance with the National Education Policy, Mirzapur offers only the Science and Humanities educational sections for the cadets from the 9th grade. However, the cadets are encouraged to study Science, but Humanities students are not necessarily overlooked. Cadets have proved their excellence in every sectors of education since its inception.

Infrastructure

Inside Suhrawardy House

Museum

The museum is situated just beside the Arts and crafts & Geography department. Some items are:

• Pictures of the historical events regarding MCC and the cadet colleges in Bangladesh.
• A map of the college.

Dining hall

All cadets take their meals together in the dining hall. There are separate seating facilities for the prefects and the duty master generally known as the " High Table". Five meals are served everyday. The first Butler of the Dining Hall was 'Mr. Hitler'.

Houses

The House flags

When the academic activities of the college started on 9 January 1965, there were only two houses - Jinnah (now Fazlul Huq House) and Liaqat (now Suhrawardy House) for students' accommodation. Later Ayub House (now Nazrul House) was constructed to accommodate more students.

• Fazlul Huq House: The first house of MCC. Initially it was named "Jinnah House". After the independence of Bangladesh the current name was chosen. The motto of the house is Search, Struggle, Victory, the house color is blue and the symbol is a tiger. It is also called Tiger's den.This house become champion in inter house overall competition for maximum time.

• Suhrawardy House: The middle house of MCC. Named after the mainstream renowned democratic leader of Bangladesh Hussein Shahid Suhrawardy. The logo is an eagle and it is therefore also called Eagle's realm, which bears the color red. The motto of this house is Vini Vidi Vici. Initially, the house was named "Liaqat House".

• Nazrul House: The green house. Named after the national poet of Bangladesh, Kazi Nazrul Islam. The house logo is lion and so the house is also called Lion House. The motto of this house is 'Ever Erect is my Head', a line of a poem of Kazi Nazrul Islam. Initially, the house was named "Ayub House".

Mosque

There is a central mosque where all the Cadets are bound to say their evening prayers everyday. The cadets also says their Jumma prayer there.

A cadet turned athlete at 400m hurdles

Hospital

Mirzapur Cadet College has a hospital for the cadets and for employees. A full time doctor from the Army Medical Corps is appointed along with several qualified assistants. All the medicines are provided free of cost. Sick cadets can report at the hospital every morning. The hospital is open 24 hours to accommodate any special needs.

Critical cases are directly referred to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka Cantonment.

Designer

Mirzapur Cadet College

The fantastic MCC Campus was designed by the famous architect Mr. Thariani.

Library

Entrance to the house area

Gate of the house area

Circular ground in front of the academy building

Main article: Shahid Khorshed Memorial Library

Mirzapur Cadet College has a library named as Shahid Khurshid Smriti Granthagar.The library is named after the martyr of the Liberation War of Bangladesh who was a cadet of this college, there is a portrait of Khurshid Ali on the wall of the library.

The library consists of around 18000 books. Daily newspapers and weekly magazines are available for cadets and staff.

Clubs and societies

• Quranic Society : The members of this society practice recitation of the Quran and are taught principles and significance of the holy verses revealed to Prophet Muhammad Sm. They also study the lifestyle of the Prophet.
• Bangla Literary and Cultural Society : Members of this society explore Bengali literature. They practice acting by playing characters portrayed by Bengali dramatists. Also poetry recitation, debate and extempore speeches are practiced.
• English Society : The society generates enthusiasm for English language and literature and further the cadet's ability to use English. Members also practice recitation, elocution , public speaking and debate.
• Geography Society : Understanding geography from the basic concepts and maps.
• Hiking Club : Cadets get a bit closer to the nature, as they roam around the neighboring area for random interesting matters.
• Photography Club : Basic ideas and techniques of taking better snaps with your camera - that's what they learn here.
• Biology Club : Is it your brain, or the cactus you are interested? Don't be late, join the biologists!
• Natural Study Club : An informal approach to get to know the wonders of nature.
• Physics Club : Get amazed to learn about the world of physics we live in...
• Chemistry Club : Want some magic? Join the chemists, and now you can turn the red to blue, and blue to green!
• Computer Club : We cannot live without them... so why don't we get to know them... a bit more?
• First Aid Club : Injury and trouble - they never notifies you before coming. So why not be prepared?
• Wood Work Club : They never make furniture here... but anything else - simply with wood!
• Music Club : The members of this club practice and play instruments under the guidance of a music teacher. It includes practice on Tagore song, Nazrul song, Rural (Bangla-পল্লী) song, modern song, classical song and band song as well.
• General Knowledge and Current Affairs Club : Know your world, a little bit more.
• Arts and Crafts Club : When you draw, they say you are actually making a color print of your mind. So why not give it a try?

These clubs make the cadets to move out from the traditional textbooks, that what makes them different and smarter, and well-prepared for the life ahead.

First Administration

• Principal: Mr. Michael William Pitt
• Adjutant: Captain Sayed Ali Ansar
• Doctor: Dr. Hafizul Hasan
• Vice Principal: Professor A Wahab
• House Masters:
  • Jinnah (now Fazlul Huq) House: Mr. Abdul Gafur
  • Liaquat (now Suhrawardy) House: Mr. Saifuddin Ahmed
  • Ayub (now Nazrul) House: Mr. Masud Hasan
• OIC, Dining Hall: Mr. R M M Yakub
• Senior Cadet: Jahangir Haque (also called College Captain, now entitled as College Prefect)
• College Cultural Prefect: Ziaur Rahman
• College Dining Hall Prefect: M M Matin
• House Leaders:
  • Fazlul Huq House: Zia Uddin Ahmed
  • Suhrawardy House: Zia Uddin Ahmed
  • Nazrul House: Yousuf Habibur Rahman
• Official activities began from: 7 January 1965

Notable alumni

Government & Military

• Major General Golam Mohammad nwc, psc (Retd), Last served as Director General of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies
• Major General Mohammad Shamim Chowdhury, nwc, psc, Commandant Defence Services Command & Staff College, Mirpur, Dhaka
• Major General Ziaur Rahman psc, GOC 11 Infantry Division, Bogra
• Major General Abul Kalam Md Humayun Kabir psc, Military Secretary to the President of Bangladesh
• Lieutenant General Sina Ibn Jamali, awc, psc (Retd), Last served as Commandant National Defense College
• Atiur Rahman, economist, Governor of Bangladesh Bank, 2009-
• Colonel Hanif Iqbal, DG, Anti Corruption Commission of Bangladesh
• Ahmed Ataul Hakeem, Comptroller & Auditor General Of Bangladesh
• Dr Fahim Munayem, Press Secretary to Chief Advisor in Caretaker government (2008–2009)
• Dr. Mohammad Tamim, Special Assistant (2008–2009) to Chief Advisor in Caretaker Government
• General Md Abdul Mubeen, ndc, psc, Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh Army

Pop Culture

• Alamgir, Pop singer in Pakistan

Corporate

• Feroz Mahmud, CEO of Microsoft Bangladesh
• Syed Nazmul Ahsan, investment banker, CEO of Asian Capital Partners Malaysia
• Naimul Karim, researcher at 3M, father of Jawed Karim, founder of Youtube and Paypal.

Science

• Mohammad Giasuddin, Nuclear physicist

External links

• Mirzapur Cadet College, website maintained by Bangladesh Army
• Mirzapur Ex-Cadets' Association
• Website of 25th Batch of MCC
• Website of 19th Batch of MCC
• Archived site of the 21st Batch of MCC
• Facebook group for MCC