Pabna, Dec 23, (V7N) – Some are seventy years old, others eighty. Many are between fifty and sixty. They are meeting each other after forty to fifty years. People of all ages came together on one special day, in one place. After so many years, reuniting with old classmates and friends, they were ecstatic. It was an emotional moment. This heartwarming reunion took place at the Pakshi Railway Field in Pabna.

Chandraprabha Vidyapith, an iconic educational institution in the Ishwardi Upazila of Pabna, has completed 100 years. To commemorate this milestone, a two-day grand centennial celebration was organized by the school’s alumni and current students.

The celebration began on Friday, December 21. Alumni from various parts of the country returned to their hometown of Ishwardi, driven by nostalgia. On Saturday, December 22, the 100th anniversary celebration continued with a vibrant procession, reminiscing of the past, cultural programs, and other colorful events.

The festivities started early on Friday morning as alumni gathered at the Pakshi Railway Field. Former students from all over the country and abroad returned for this joyous occasion. Some were middle-aged, while others were elderly. Reuniting with old classmates, they hugged each other, exchanged greetings, and shared stories, some even becoming emotional. They relived their school days, engaging in playful banter and laughter.

On Saturday morning, a colorful procession featuring current and former students set out from the Pakshi Railway Field. The procession, accompanied by the theme song of the centennial celebration, included elephants, horse carts, banners, festoons, and music, as they sang and danced. The procession ended at the school grounds, where many alumni paused to capture memories by taking photos at the school gate. Some also revisited the mosque beside the school.

After the procession, the alumni, after many years, stepped onto the school grounds. They participated in the raising of the national flag, accompanied by the national anthem. After the anthem, the attendees stood in respect as the flag was hoisted. Before this, the school bell rang and the alumni lined up in front of their beloved school. In addition to those coming from different parts of the country, some alumni even traveled from abroad to attend the centennial celebration. Their excitement to share this moment was palpable.

In the afternoon, the chief guest, Mohammad Afzal Hossain, General Manager of Bangladesh Railways, inaugurated the event by hoisting the national flag to the tune of the national anthem. During this time, former students gathered to reminisce and engage in lively conversations. The two-day celebration concluded with a delightful cultural program in the evening.

Kazi Badarul Haque Mukta, a retired railway employee from the 1969 batch, expressed his joy, saying, "It feels like I’ve regained my youth. I’m remembering so many memories from school. My friend Alaudin, who was good at sports, and I used to trip each other in the school games so we could win. I just met Alaudin again. It feels so good to reconnect with so many friends after all these years."

Abdul Haque and Jinnah Haque, businessmen from the 1984 batch who now live in America, shared their excitement: "We are so happy to meet our friends after 40 years. We were eager to join the centennial celebration, so we traveled all the way from America. The memories of school are vivid in our minds. Sometimes, we would skip assemblies, and our teachers would scold us. At times, we even left school and went home to avoid the teachers' punishment."

Ashraful Alam from the 1992 batch said, "Visiting our beloved school brought back so many memories. I became emotional as I walked around. I even remembered the time we used to skip school and sleep on the veranda of the mosque next door. It feels like we’ve returned to our teenage years."

Akhtar Uzzaman and Ziaul Haque, also from the 1984 batch, both businessmen, said: "After 48 years, we’ve met our old friends again. We reminisced about our school days and talked about what we’re doing now. The memories of our school life were natural, unlike the mechanical lives we live today. Such a celebration was much needed."

Ashraf Ali Khan Manju, the General Secretary of the Centennial Celebration Committee, mentioned, "We managed to find the oldest alumni, from the 1954 batch, and even someone from the 1958 batch. This reunion was filled with joy, as everyone relived the old days in one single event. This was the true success of the celebration." He also mentioned that the celebration drew a crowd of at least ten thousand people, including former students and their families.

Mohammad Afzal Hossain, the General Manager of Bangladesh Railways, expressed his delight, saying, "I am truly honored to be a part of this grand event. I never imagined such a beautiful gathering with so many people. This celebration will surely create a bond between the past and present."

END/SR/MSS/AJ/