Founded in 1889 by social reformer Ashwini Kumar Dutta, Brajmohan College—popularly known as BM College—was built on the ideals of truth, love, and purity. Located on the banks of the Kirtonkhola River in Barishal, this historic institution was once the beacon of higher education in southern Bangladesh. However, over a century later, the institution now grapples with multiple crises that threaten to erode its glorious legacy.
Faculty Crisis and Overcrowded Classrooms
BM College currently has 22 academic departments offering Honours courses and 19 postgraduate programs. The student population stands at around 32,000. Yet, the number of teachers falls short—only 165 faculty members are in place against the sanctioned 199 posts. According to government standards, each department should have at least 12 teachers, a benchmark that no department at BM College currently meets. The Finance Department has only two teachers, and the Marketing Department has just one. In many cases, entire academic programs are run by just 3–4 teachers.
Naeem Islam, a student of the Bangla Department, shared, “Due to classroom shortages, each department is forced to reduce the number of classes. And with so few teachers, completing the syllabus becomes almost impossible.”
Hazardous Living Conditions in Dormitories
The most pressing issue at BM College is the severe housing crisis. Out of 32,000 students, only about 2,500 have access to college-run dormitories. There are just three dorms for male students and one for female students, offering a total of 1,150 seats. Yet nearly 2,500 students are cramped into these limited spaces. The rest are left to find accommodation in private hostels or messes, which are often expensive and insecure.
At the Ashwini Kumar Hall’s "A" Block, plaster is falling from the ceiling, and walls and floors are in a dilapidated state. Student Akbar Mobin said, “We live in overcrowded rooms, but the biggest fear is the ceiling. Plaster often falls. We fear a major accident.” Some rooms have already been declared unsafe.
The tin-roofed section of Flt. Sgt. Fazlul Haque Hall is similarly uninhabitable—with damp conditions, cracked walls, and unhygienic floors. During rain, water seeps into the rooms, and poisonous creatures have occasionally entered.
The same problems persist in the Bonamali Ganguly Women’s Dormitory. Suborna Khanam, a student from the Philosophy Department, said, “Two students have to share a single bed. Life here is very tough. The boundary wall behind the dorm has collapsed, and there's no proper security.”
20,000 Students Living in Private Hostels
With only 7% of students accommodated in official dorms, over 20,000 students live in private messes. This imposes a significant financial burden on middle- and lower-income families.
Md. Billal Hossain, a student from the Management Department, explained, “In messes, we spend at least BDT 1,500 on rent and around BDT 4,500 on food. Overall, it costs BDT 7,000 a month. In a dorm, it would be just BDT 2,500. This extra expense is a major strain on our families.”
His classmate Jannatul Ferdous added, “At the end of the month, when my parents send such a large amount of money, it creates stress for them—and that hurts us emotionally too.”
Inadequate Transportation
The college operates only three buses for its 32,000 students—serving just Bakerganj, Jhalakathi, and Gournadi routes. The buses are severely overcrowded, with students often forced to hang onto railings during the commute.
Sajib Das, from the Soil Science Department, said, “There’s not even standing space on the buses. We risk our lives every day just to reach class.”
Principal Sheikh Md. Tajul Islam remarked, “Universities have transportation pools funded by the government. But we have to buy buses from our own funds and cover all costs from student fees.”
A Legacy at Risk
BM College was established on 14 June 1889 by Ashwini Kumar Dutta, a renowned educationist, reformer, and nationalist leader. It was named after his father, Brajmohan Dutta. Ashwini Kumar was a pioneer in women's education, the Swadeshi movement, and anti-superstition campaigns. BM College was born from his vision, and it grew to become the largest institution for higher education in southern Bengal.
Despite its storied past, the college is now in disrepair. Principal Tajul Islam notes, “We are in a dire state. Resolving these issues would require at least BDT 200 crore, but there is no allocation for that.”
Spanning nearly 60 acres, the college campus still bears the architectural imprint of the British colonial era. With its vibrant flora—krishnachura, radhachura, and cannonball trees—it was once a hub of learning, politics, and culture. Among its most illustrious alumni is poet Jibanananda Das, who also served as a teacher at the college. But today, this once-proud institution is losing its shine. Plaster falls from ceilings, cracks line the walls, and classrooms are too cramped for effective teaching.
Professor Shah Sajeda, the first female head of the Management Department and president of Mahila Parishad’s Barishal chapter, said, “BM College is not just an educational institution; it symbolizes cultural and progressive values. To preserve this century-old heritage, sincere state intervention is urgently needed.”