TA Panna, Roving Correspondent, Ishurdi

Some were aged twenty to eighty, some were 85 years old. The number of alumni aged 30 to 50 was high.

However, the number of those aged 50 to 70 was not less. Meeting each other after 30 to 60 years. After so many years, the first question asked by a friend was, how are you, friend. How are your wife, sons and daughters, how are you? Then it was interesting to hug each other and go back to childhood and reminisce about various memories. Some were standing, some were chatting in the tea stall or in the round house or in the book stall.

They were all together in one place, breaking all the age and barriers. Everyone was excited to see their classmates and friends after so many years. Seeing the joy of the parents and hearing the conversation, the boys and girls expressed their feelings to the journalists, saying, "I wish I could have studied in this school. It would have been great if I had seen it.

It is difficult to imagine the emotional moment that was all over the venue. Such a gathering was held in the historical football field of the Pakshi Divisional Railway Office, built during the British period, on the banks of the Padmanadhi River in Pakshi, Ishwardi, the proud daughter of Ishwardi and known as the Tilak of Nature.

Bangladesh Railway Government Chandraprabha Vidyapeeth, a traditional railway educational institution in Pakshi, Ishwardi, which is associated with the history of the railway for almost 150 years, is a traditional railway educational institution.

In the past 100 years, this government-run Chandraprabha Vidyapith of the Railways has produced many luminaries, including former Mayor of Kolkata City Corporation, former MP and freedom fighter Sirajul Islam Sardar, company commander of the Liberation War, Ed. Sadrul Haque Sudha, former Joint General Secretary of the Awami League, Hanif, his other elder brothers living abroad, secretary-level bureaucrats.

Wahed Ali Khan Bachchu living in America, educationists, industrialists, kidney transplant recipients Dr. Kamrul Islam and Dr. Shahed Imran, and countless doctors like Moen Uddin Ravi. That is why the former and current students of the school organized a grand two-day centenary festival to commemorate this day.

The main coordinator of the event was the cultural figure of the region, BNP's central leader, former MP, freedom fighter Sirajul Islam Sardar, the main advisor was the company commander of the liberation war, Ed. Sadrul Haque Sudha, and the member secretary was the eminent industrialist Ashraf Ali Khan Manju. Numerous enthusiastic organizers and alumni of different ages were present. The two-day event started last Friday (December 21). For about a month before this, the entire field was decorated in colorful decorations to catch the eye.

A few days before the event, people from different parts of the country and different countries of the world rushed to their localities Ishwardi and Pakshi.

On Saturday (December 22/24), the centenary of Chandraprabha Vidyapeeth was celebrated with colourful arrangements including a procession, memorial service, and cultural programs.

They arrived at the Pakshi Divisional Railway Football Field, the venue of the event, from Friday morning. All the alumni came from different parts of the country and different countries. Some of them who studied together were in their last days, some were middle-aged, some were in the throes of a newfound voice.

It was a sight to see their dear friends and classmates hugging, laughing, and joking after so many years. They inquired about each other. Many were overwhelmed with emotion. They returned to the love stories, joy, excitement, and stories of school life. They indulged in murder. On Saturday morning, a colorful procession took place from the Pakshi Divisional Railway Football Field with the participation of current and former students.

To the tune of the theme song of the centenary celebration, elephants, horse-drawn carriages, banners, festoons, and musical instruments, the students gathered in the school premises surrounded by memories. Many went to the main gate of the school and took pictures to preserve the memories. Some visited the mosque premises next to the school.

After the procession, the former students set foot in the courtyard of their beloved school after so many years. There, the teachers and students of the school hoisted the national flag along with the national anthem. After the national anthem, they raised their hands to show respect for the national flag.

Earlier, the former students stood in line after ringing the school bell. Friends came not only from different parts of the country but also from outside the country to organize the centenary of their school. They were happy to share the joy.

Later in the afternoon, Bangladesh Railway General Manager Md. Afzal Hossain, as the chief guest, inaugurated the program by hoisting the national flag to the tune of the national anthem at the railway ground. At that time, alumni, BNP central leader, former MP, freedom fighter Sirajul Islam Sardar, Chief Advisor, Company Commander of the Liberation War, Adv. Sadrul Haque Sudha, and alumni Member Secretary, prominent industrialist Ashraf Ali Khan Manju also participated in the flag hoisting.

In the evening, the two-day festival ended late at night with the mesmerizing voices and dance performances of Ish^radi's children Sohel Mehedi, Robi Chowdhury, Luipa and tribal artists.

Bangladesh Railway General Manager Md. Afzal Hossain said, "I am very happy and overwhelmed to be present at such a big event. I feel blessed.

Kazi Badrul Haque Mukta, a student of the 69th batch of Chandraprabha Vidyapeeth and currently a retired railway employee, said, "I feel like I have regained my life. I remember so many memories of school. My friend Alauddin and I were good at sports.

Abdul Haque and Jinnah Haque, students of the 84th batch, currently expatriate businessmen in America, said, "I met my friends after a long 40 years. I was very excited to attend this centenary program. That's why I am rushing from America. School memories flashed before my eyes.

The teachers used to keep us under very strict discipline. Sometimes I would go home without going to school because I was afraid of the teachers because I didn't do the assembly.'

'84 batch students, now businessmen Akter Uzzaman and Ziaul Haque said, 'I met those friends who I had made in small times at the crossroads of my life, after almost 48 long years. I reminisced about who was doing what at that time, we went back to that day.

'92 batch student Ashraful Alam said, 'We visited our beloved school. I was overwhelmed with emotions as I remembered my childhood memories. Today we have regained our lives, it feels like we have returned to the age of 14 or 15.'

Ashraf Ali Khan Manju, Member Secretary of the centenary celebration committee, said, 'In organizing the centenary celebration of this school, we have found one of the oldest students from 1954. We have found one from 1958. Everyone is happy at this gathering.