Teacher-Student Centre, University of Dhaka

Teacher-Student Centre
ছাত্র-শিক্ষক কেন্দ্র

Teacher-Student Centre
Alternative names TSC
General information
Type Recreational Centre
Architectural style Modern
Location Bangladesh Dhaka, Bangladesh
Coordinates 23°43′52″N 90°23′46″E / 23.731229°N 90.3962°ECoordinates: 23°43′52″N 90°23′46″E / 23.731229°N 90.3962°E
Completed 1961
Design and construction
Architect Konstantine Doxiades
The front view of TSC

The Teacher-Student Centre or TSC of the University of Dhaka is situated within the Dhaka University campus area, Shahbagh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

History

TSC was established in 1961 under the Dhaka University as the Division of Student Affairs.[1] The construction of the TSC was financed by the then Pakistan Government and Ford foundation. Certain parts of the area where the TSC is now situated used to be some parts of the old Sujatpur Palace grounds (the oldest Nawab Mansion in Shahbagh), which stood there before TSC was built. There was a Greek cemetery in the west side of the race course, now Suhrawardy Udyan, which is possibly where the guest rooms behind the TSC cafeteria is. Many historically important political meetings and discussions were held at the TSC during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Even now the same trend continues regarding political situations amongst the students. Template:Cn And

Architectural significance

The Greek mausoleum in TSC

The main Teacher-Student center building was designed by Konstantinos Doxiadis, a Greek architect-planner. It is an example of modern architecture as it respects the local culture, climate, and indigenous spatial arrangement around a court. As a unique feature it has an extra butterfly canopy (double roof ) extended over the main block at the front to keep it cool. This Complex brings together dining rooms and meeting rooms, library and reading rooms, art and music rooms, stage and multipurpose hall, games rooms, film lab, rehearsal rooms, etc. under one roof. These form the social and cultural heart of the campus. The complex has some extensions which were built during the 1980s that allowed north-south cross-ventilation . As one enters TSC, as it is popularly known, a sculpture of crows in flight by Ekushey award winning sculptor Hamiduzzaman Khan greets the visitors.

Across the green lawn to the east of the TSC, a small Greek Mausoleum stands distinctively. It is the only surviving mausoleum in the fond memory of Demetrius, which was built in 1915. The Government architect designed this small square structure as a classical doric monument rather than in a more ecclesiastical style. It has a flat roof and projecting front on all sides, with entrance on the east, that transforms the square plan into a cruciform shape. It is the only trace of the small Greek community that existed in Bangladesh in the 19th century. The mausoleum still has nice epitaphs attached to the wall, most of which is written in classical Greek.

The TSC complex also contains a pair of small Siva temples, and a dwarf monument in between, inside the swimming pool enclave. The swimming pool is currently not in use.

Activities

Teacher-Student centre is an all-campus activity centre designed for relaxation and guidance. 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 program of the university students and faculty members mingle in the cafeteria and the bookstore, sports and recreational areas. Recognized campus organizations hold their meetings and functions, lectures and arts exhibitions here. Discussion sessions are frequently scheduled, journals and bulletins published, and competitions held, giving the university a varied and interesting programme of cultural and social events.

TSC, in the meantime, designated and fixed few dates for some events. For example, Basanta Utshab (13-14 Feb), which is Bengali spring festival, Boishaki Utshab (15–19 April), which is Bengali New year festival, Fete de la Musique (2 July) and Friendship Day (First Sunday of August). These festivals bring in many activities which includes local fairs, face painting, music, drama, dances and colourful dress codes (wearing yellow attires at spring festival and red and white signifies new year). TSC created a working field by the formation of the Dhaka University Cultural Team with a new approach which reflected a great impact amongst the student community. TSC is resounded by the teachers, students of different halls, activists of socio-cultural organizations with various programmes of educational, co-curricular and entertainments; national and international seminars, symposium, freshers and fare-well receptions and orientation programmes of different Departments and Institutes.

The students activities also included donating reliefs, for example during the devastating flood of 1987 and also the recent Sidr in 2007. Students prepared food and saline for the flood affected people for over four months that year. The centre also holds the facilities of a voluntary blood donation organization, called Badhan, organized by the students of the University.

Present condition

The teachers-students centre is a very popular, demanding and highly active hub for a variety of social and cultural activities and events. It is a free centre which invites not only students and teachers but also others, uniting together for nations progress.

The centre also houses the office of Badhan ( A Voluntary Blood Donors' Organization)[2] the office of the Dhaka University Debating Society, Dhaka University Film Society, Dhaka University Tourist Society, Dhaka University Journalists Association, Dhaka University Photographic Society, Dhaka University Chess Club, Rover Scout, different socio-cultural groups of the students.

Dhaka University Publication Centre, Janata Bank are also situated in TSC.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sajahan Miah (2012). "University of Dhaka". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  2. ↑ www.badhan.org http://www.badhan.org. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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