More than 3,000 alumnae return to Barisal Govt Girls' High School as it celebrates its centenary

The grounds of Barisal Government Girls' High School turned colourful with pink saris as more than 3,000 former students returned to their familiar campus on Friday for a reunion marking the school's centenary.

Some of the alumnae were bent with age, some were middle-aged, and others had left the school only a few years ago. Forgetting differences of age and profession, all of them travelled back to their school days. Some were overcome with emotion at meeting old classmates again, while others captured the moments on camera.

The two-day centenary programme began on Friday morning with a colourful procession. It set out from the school grounds on Bogura Road and travelled through various streets of the city.

At the inaugural ceremony in the afternoon, the chief guest was the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed (Bir Bikram). The special guests were MP Mojibur Rahman Sarwar and Begum Selima Rahman. The programme was coordinated by Bilkis Akter Jahan Shirin, convener of the centenary celebration council and administrator of Barisal City Corporation, herself a former student of the school.

In his speech as chief guest, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said the school has a distinctive history alongside its teaching. After the Liberation War began, the country's first private secretariat was set up at this school, he said. Its students have established themselves in various fields of society; they learned much from the school, and now it is time to give something back to the institution, he added.

Centenary celebration council convener Bilkis Akter Jahan Shirin said former students who passed the SSC between 1950 and 2025 were given the opportunity to register for the centenary event. More than 3,000 former students registered, and many expatriate alumnae also returned to the country to join the celebration.

Alumnae who passed their secondary exams from this school have become teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians and successful entrepreneurs. Returning to their beloved institution after a long time, many searched for the memories of their childhood left behind.

The second day of the festival will also feature a range of events, including musical pillow passing, reminiscence sessions, the hari bhanga game and a chocolate race, along with various competitions and a cultural programme, all with the participation of former students.

The school's history stretches back nearly a century and a half. In 1873, a primary school was established in Barisal town of the then Bakerganj district at the initiative of the Kachabalia zamindar family and several education enthusiasts. The institution later expanded under the name 'Barisal Sadar Girls' School'. It became a full high school in 1923 and was nationalised in 1961.