Notre Dame College, Dhaka (), also known as NDC, is a Catholic higher secondary school (in the Indian subcontinent, as in the United Kingdom, higher secondary schools comprising the 11th and 12th years of education are often referred to as colleges) as well as a degree college affiliated to the National University.
It is one of the oldest educational institutions in Dhaka, Bangladesh, established in 1949. This institution is administered by the Congregation of Holy Cross, Society of Priests. The college also offers three years of degree program, Bachelor of Arts (BA Pass Course) and Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSS Pass Course). In 2019, the institution celebrated its 70th anniversary.
History
Notre Dame College was first established at Luxmibazar, Old Dhaka in November, 1949 with the name "St. Gregory College". In 1954–55, the institution was transferred to Arambagh, Motijheel from its initial location of Dhaka with the present name – "Notre Dame", referring to Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.
It was established by the Roman Catholic Priests from the Congregation of Holy Cross because of the crisis in the education sector of newborn East Pakistan. It was known as the St. Gregory College, an extension of the St. Gregory's School, which was also established by the mission.
It was relocated to its current location in Motijheel in 1954 and renamed to Notre Dame College. The new name was a tribute to the University of Notre Dame, the alma mater of many of the faculty members.
Since the 1980s, Notre Dame College gained reputation of the best institution for higher secondary education in the country. The highest number of perfect GPA holders in national examination (H.S.C.) and the exceptional success of its students in university admission tests bear testimony to this.
Gallery
Robert Boughey An American architect born in Pennsylvania, USA. He completed his Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York in 1959 and received Diploma in Tropical Studies from AA School of Architecture, London in 1967. He is a former research professor of architecture at Pratt institute. He is the architect of the main structure of Notre Dame College.
Students
Students of Notre Dame College are known as "Notredamians". Every year Notre Dame College admits around 2000-2100 students in science, around 410 students in humanities and around 750 students in business studies group through one of the most competitive college admission process in the country. Currently, it consists of 17 sections for students in science terming each as "Groups". In case of science, groups 1 to 14 include Bangla medium students and the rest 15, 16 and 17 groups admit English version students. Humanities has groups H, W and G while the business studies has groups A, B, C, D, E and F.
Extracurricular clubs
The college has 26 extracurricular clubs.
Notre Dame Nature Study Club
Notre Dame Nature Study Club also known as NDNSC, is the first nature club in the country. It was established on 29 August 1984 by Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, former lecturer of Notre Dame College and also the founder and chairman of Nature Study Society of Bangladesh.
Every year it organizes the most prestigious nature summit of the country. Its motto is 'Love the beauty of nature'. Every year it publishes its annual magazine "Nisarga".
Notre Dame Science Club
Notre Dame Science Club also known as NDSC, is the oldest science club in the country. It was established on 18 September 1955 by the ex-principal of the college Father Richard William Timm, CSC. It celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2005. And celebrated its 60 years in 2015. Every year it organizes the biggest science fair at college level in the country.
Its motto is 'Science In Human Welfare'. College's 3 quiz team "NDC Gold", "NDC Blue" and "NDC Green" are maintained by Notre Dame Science Club. Every year it publishes its annual magazine "Audri" and wall magazine "Abiskar(আবিষ্কার)", "Focus(ফোকাস)" & "Trimatrik(ত্রিমাত্রিক)". Moreover, Notre Dame Science Club also organizes different workshops and seminars which help its members to gather knowledge and improve their skills.
Notre Dame Rotaract Club
Notre Dame Rotaract Club (NDRC) is the first Rotaract club in the college level of Bangladesh. The club was founded in 1991 due to much eagerness and endeavor of Subrata Debnath, a student of academic year 1989-90 of Notre Dame College, Dhaka. Its objective is to form leadership quality, to build up notable personality, to make scopes of learning about the social, national and international situation, to give the chance of working together to enhance the spirit of cooperation.