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University of Dhaka : ‘The Oxford of the East’

(From previous issue) University of Dhaka Library provides a wide range of scholarly electronic resources but, for licensing reasons, most of them have to be restricted to members of the university. A number of international electronic journals/research databases are available via the PERI programme of INASP. Most of the resources can be accessed within the university network without a password; some of the resources require user ID and password. The Medical Centre of the University of Dhaka, located near the Science Annex Building, offers free medical service and free pathological examinations to students, teachers, staff and family members of the teachers and staff. The Centre provides service round-the-clock, seven-days-a-week, with 30 doctors. The Centre has a dental unit, eye unit, X-ray department and two ambulances. The Centre has arrangement for 30 bed accommodation so that patients suffering from contagious diseases may be cared for in isolation. A Resource Center for the Visually Impaired Studentsis in the Central Library under the joint collaboration of the University of Dhaka and an international organization, called Sight-savers. The Centre contains modern library facilities for the visually impaired students. The Students Counseling and Guidance Service is an integral part of the academic programmes of students of the teaching departments and institutes. It aims at helping students to adjust to campus life, effectively pursue curricular as well as co-curricular activities, develop their abilities for making wise choices and plans, and solve individual problems through counseling. The University of Dhaka organizes sports and other extracurricular and recreational activities. The Office of the Director of Physical Education provides three types of programmes: The University of Dhaka Ground is the official stadium of the university. It hosts many intercollegiate sports tournaments at inter-city, provincial and national levels. The Directorate organises and conducts interdepartment and inter-hall tournaments, individual hall athletics, Dhaka University athletics, and inter-university games and sports. Students participate in national championships in different games and sports for which training and coaching are offered. There are some cafeterias in the Dhaka University area. Some of them are historically important. The Madhur Canteen is not only a cafeteria, but also a place of national historical interest. University of Dhaka has transport services for its students. Though the number of the buses is not sufficient for the vast student community it is a great service to students. The bus schedule for different parts of the city can be found in the bus depot. The service is always on run (even on university holidays) to help those students who come to university for library or teacher's council. The University of Dhaka is rich in cultural activities. There are colorful celebrations of different festivals around the year. Teacher-Student Centre, the only one of its kind in Bangladesh, is an all-campus activity centre designed for relaxation and guidance which came into being in 1961. It has its value as community centre unifying the life of the university and serves as a sponsor of self-directed activity in which students learn that they are responsible for the welfare of their university and their country. The Centre seeks to foster a type of campus community life which supplements the formal academic programme of the University. The Centre brings together under one roof dining rooms and meeting rooms, library and reading rooms, art and music rooms, stage and multipurpose hall, games rooms, etc. These form the social and cultural heart of the campus. The Centre also houses the office of the Dhaka University Debating Society, Dhaka University Film Society, Dhaka University Tourist Society, Dhaka University Journalists Association, Dhaka University Chess Club, different Socio-Cultural Groups of the students, Rover Scout, Dhaka University Publication Center, Bank, Utility shop, Food Corner, and also the facilities of a voluntary blood donation organization, called Badhan, organized by the students of the University. The University of Dhaka hosts most of the major national celebrations in the capital. Pohela Boishakh, the colorful Bangla New Year's Day festival takes place in University of Dhaka campus where a large number of people gather welcoming the new year. University of Dhaka celebrates Nabanno, a traditional annual festival marking the harvest of new crop, in style. Hundreds of girls and boys, attire in traditional dresses, attend the harvest festival, Nabanno Utsab, held at Bakultala at the Institute of Fine Arts in the University campus. Pahela Falgun, the first day of colorful Spring, is celebrated with lots of enthusiasm and in style in the University of Dhaka campus. Students wear colorful attire and performs in traditional cultural activities. In addition, TSC designated and fixed few dates for some events. For example, Basanta Utshab (13-14 Feb), Baishaki Utshab (15-19 April), Fete de la Musique (2 July) and Friendship Day (First Sunday of August). The University of Dhaka is a place of religious harmony. The university students and teachers enjoy holidays in the major festivals of Muslim, Hindu, Christian Buddhist etc. religions. Although, Bangladesh and the university is Muslim majority, other religious festivals are also celebrated in the university campus. For example, major Hindu religion festivals, such as Durga Puja and Swaraswati Puja, are celebrated every year at Jagannath Hall in the University of Dhaka campus, also with enthusiastic participation of Muslims and others. The University of Dhaka organises sports and other extracurricular and recreational activities. The Office of the Director of Physical Education provides three types of programs: (1) Compulsory Physical Education, (2) Certificate Course in coaching major games and sports, and