THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL

In this contemporary world English is not a language but a technology because most of the correspondence and communication in today’s world are carried out in English language. Especially modern computer and internet users must have the knowledge of English in order to operate the same. Most of the English medium schools in Bangladesh are located in the capital city Dhaka, with availability of such school in other cities being quite limited.

But students of Sylhet division have no scope to learn English as second language for non-availability of English medium schools. Thus the need for setting up an English medium school in Sylhet for preparing students for the GCE O level Examination, conducted by educational authorities in the United Kingdom, particularly for the children of Sylhet division migrating to UK and other countries with their parents, without much knowledge of English Language, was very much felt by Bangladeshi returning home from abroad and by the local people. It was also felt by the Bangladeshi, living abroad, that when their children return to Sylhet for extended stays, during which, owing to the absence of proper schooling facilities are eventually found not fit for schools most of the overseas countries.

It was also felt that there were not enough facilities for learning Bengali was a language and getting religious education in the existing education system in overseas countries, as a result Bangladeshi parents living abroad would be eager to send their children back to home if there were facilities for preparing them at least for the GCE examination along with learning Bengali as a mother tongue and religious studies.

To meet such demands, Mr. Mohammad Faizullah C.S.P., the joint secretary of the government of Bangladesh and former Deputy Commissioner, Sylhet with some local educationalist and social leaders took the decisions to set up an English medium school in Sylhet. A managing committee was formed with Mr. Mohammad Faizullah as the Chairman, the Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet as Vice-Chairman and members are, (1) Mr. Muslim Chowdhury (2) Mr. K. K. Paul (3) Mr. Md. Tajammul Ali (Project Director) (4) Mr. Nurul Islam (5) Moulana Nurul Islam (6) Prof. A.N.A.A. Mahboob Ahmed (7) Mr. Abdul Wahed Khan (8) Mr. CM Koyes Sami and (9) Prof. Bahauddin Jakaria. Thus The Sylhet International School first came into being on 27th September 1986. Mr. Mohammad Faizullah then approached the Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Mr. A. N. M Hafizul Islam for a piece of land. The Deputy Commissioner then gave the temporary settlement of the present premise of land and building, requisitioned by the government. The Sylhet International School started it’s journey from 15th January 1987. The school started its journey with 6 reputed teachers namely Mr. Md. Rahim Uddin, Mr. Kajal Kanta Deb, Mrs. Bharati Deb, Mrs. Halima Begum, Mrs. Rukeya Begum. The project director (In lieu of principal) was Mr. Mohammed Tajammul Ali. With the high performance and dedication of the Project Director and the teachers within a very short period the name and fame of the school spread rapidly throughout the Sylhet division and the guardians became very eager to admit their children in this institution

Later on in 1992, to save the school and tackle all the situations and problems faced by the school the then Deputy Commissioner Sylhet Mr. Md. Shahid Uddin Ahmed executed a trust by registered Trust Deed and formed the Trustee Board with the following members: (1) The Deputy Commissioner Sylhet who shall be the ex-office Chairman and members are (2) Mr. Md. Shahid Uddin Ahmed the then Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet (3) Mr. Md. Tajammul Ali, Lamabazar, Sylhet (4) Mr. Md. Muslim Chowdhury, Sheikghat, Sylhet (5) Mr. Nurul Islam, 1 Surma Mansion, Sylhet (6) Prof. A.N.A.A. Mahboob Ahmed, Kumarpara, Sylhet (7) Moulana Nurul Islam, Mirboxtula, Sylhet (8) Mr. Abdul Wahed Khan, Housing Estate, Ambarkhana, Sylhet (9) Prof. Bijit Kumar Dey, Chouhatta, Sylhet (10) Mr. Sadar Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Lamabazar, Sylhet (11) Advocate Saleh Ahmed, 32 Burhanbag R/A, Shibgonj, Sylhet (12) Mr. Khalilur Rahman Qashemi, Shahjalal Uposhahar, Sylhet (13) Mr. Burhan Uddin Khan, Raynagar (Rajbari), Sylhet (14) Advocate Suleman Raja Choudhury, Kumarpara, Sylhet (15) Principal of the school, who shall be the ex-office member secretary.

The recorded owners of the land in which the school is situated and other plots also are (1) Mr. Kali Prasad Chakraborty and (2) Mr. Nirmal Kumar Chowdhury. With active co-operation of Mr. Lalit Chakraborty, one of the recorded owners of the property, Mr. Kali Prasad Chakraborty donated the land of Dag No. 8339 and 8214 of khatian No. 930 of Sylhet Municipality mouja to the school in 1995 by a registered deed and from then onwards the school was renamed as The Sylhet Khajanchibari International School according to the donor’s wish. After the execution of registered deed by donor & co-sharer of the property Mr. Kali Prashad Chakraborty, the other co-sharer late Mr. Nirmal Kumar Chowdhury’s wife Mrs. Sukla Chowdhury loged a tital suit in the court of Senior Assistant Judge Sylhet and another writ petition in the honorable High Court Division against the mentioned deed. But when Mrs. Sukla Chowdhury realized that deed was genuine and at it is not possible to recover the property by fighting suits. Then on 31st July 2000, a registered sulenama was executed between the school authority and Mrs. Sukla Chowdhury, the wife of late Mr. Nirmal Kumar Chowdhury the other recorded owner of the property. According to the sulenama the school will get all the land of dag no. 8339 area 1.65 acre and Mrs. Sukla Chowdhury will get the land of dag No. 8214, area 0.4344 acre where previously Islamic Foundations office was located.

The students of this school is appearing at the GCE O Level Examinations from 1989 and emerged successful which was a sheer dream come true. From 2002 the Trustee Board has decided to start A Level classes and from then this institution became a school & college. Now the number of A Level students is about 35 and the students are appearing in their exams conducted by the British Council under the syllabus of the University of London. Thanks to Mr. Mohammed Faizullah the founder and pioneer of the school, there has been a revolution in the arena of English medium school in Sylhet division. Now in Sylhet division, there are lots of English medium schools but every one gets the idea to establish their school from the revolutionary success of The Sylhet Khajanchibari International School & College. After the sad demise of Moulana Nurul Islam, Mr. Md. Muslim Chowdhury, Mr. Burhan Uddin Khan, Mr. Abdul Mannan ex-Headmaster of Govt. Pilot High School, Prof. Dr. M. A. Rakib, Prof. Abdul Baqui Chowdhury was nominated as Trustee Board member respectively. Later on Engineer Choudhury Jamal Ashraf was nominated in place of Mr. Abdul Mannan after his sad demise. The Trustee Board started a four stored modern multistoried building in 1997. The Trustee Board has already built another separate multistoried administrative building where the ground floor is earmarked for office and Principal’s chamber whiles the first floor for the Trustee Board’s conference room and Library. The board also made a modern Science Lab with state-of-the-art facilities for the GCE and A level students of Chemistry & Physics. It is the only well-equipped Science Lab owned by any school & college in Sylhet division. The institution also has a modern computer lab for the students. The Trustee Board members are working very hard to make this school a unique one in Bangladesh.

The students of this school are now serving in and around the world with good reputation, skill and knowledge. It is the pride of this school & College, particularly the dedicated members of the board of trustees, teachers as well as the students and their guardians. Our students are representing Bangladesh around the world.

The School & College aspires to be a modern, well-equipped one and stand beside the best English medium schools in the country within a very short period.

Advocate Saleh Ahmed
Trustee Board Member