Bogra Zilla School

Bogra Zilla School

History

Bogra Zilla School is the first among the government high schools in the whole Bogra district during the British rule. It had been a private English school before becoming public. There were only a few students in the school in that time. It came under governmental management through the earnest effort of magistrate and collector Mr. Russell and deputy collector Babu S. Mukharjee. And it was the beginning of the journey to the bright and enriched future of the institute.By this time, Babu Bhagabati Charan Ghosh was appointed as the Headmaster of the school. With great proficiency, he had been holding the post for six years. Bogra's famous child Babu Kishoree Lal Roy, who is the author of many philosophical writings, was then the student of this school. While describing about in his book ‘Free Enquiry after Truth', he wrote, “In 1853 a Government English school was established here and I obtained my entrance into it. My progress in this institution has been remarked by its first and best of its Headmasters that ever were, to have been remarkably rapid. Be it said with deep respect and gratitude that under the judicious tuition of Babu Bhagabati Charan Ghosh I obtained a useful knowledge of the English language within about four years and a half. I have always thought Bhahabati Babu to be one of my greatest benefactors on Earth and will think so for ever also.”There were totally four teachers during the period of Bhagabati Babu. According to the National School Committee, the school appeared to be started to principally by the sons and relatives of the clerks officers connected with the Courts. After Bhagabati Babu, A. C. Mukharjee became the Headmaster in 1859. During his period of tuition, in that year, two students passed in 2nd division and one passed in 1st division with scholarship in 1862. After this, the school continued to progress day by day. By this time, the practice of giving books as rewards to the students of both Bangla and English schools as per their performance was started. The prize giving ceremony used to be very gorgeous. More than a hundred taka used to be spent for fireworks. With the presence of many people from the town and nearby villages, the town came to life. Within 1859-60, the inspector of the schools of the north-east areas and Assam , Mr. W. Robinson gathered students and people while giving the prizes. He arranged a demonstration with ‘magic lantern' for their entertainment and showed many interesting and educative events of nature such as moving of stars and planets, solar and lunar eclipse, cyclone etc. Within 1881-85, the school building was constructed of bricks.In 1873-74, there were six teachers, one pundit and one moulavi in the school. There were 85 students in there in 1860-61. In 1907-08, the number of students was 363. Among them, 218 were Hindus and 145 were Muslims.