Rotary in Bangladesh
A spotlight on its Chronological & Organizational Emergence
Bangladesh as its stands today as an independent state, saw the light of Rotary with the formation of Rotary Club of Dhaka on 22 December 1937 (1937-38 Rotary Year Chartered on 26.02.1938) in the British India period. Later on, in the erstwhile East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh) 07 (Seven) Rotary clubs were organized which still exist as Chittagong (1952-53; Ch. 04.11.1952), Narayanganj (1953-54; Ch. 16.06.1954), Khulna (1957-58; Ch. 28.06.1958), Mymensingh (1957-58; Ch. 13.04.1959), Dhaka North (1967-68; Ch. 08.04.1968), Comilla (1968-69; Ch. 13.06.1969) and Chandpur (1970-71; Ch. 12.04.1974; delay due to War of Liberation and change of name of country from Pakistan to Bangladesh).
This process continued upto 25 March 1971, when this part of the world under reference plunged into a bloody war of liberation against the then Pakistan and its occupation forces. Because of the ruthless atrocities of the Pakistan military junta, the activities of Rotary were suspended in the just declared independent state of Bangladesh and the Rotarians were deprived of their rights to engage in humanitarian services. But in 1972, when things started to get normal in all sectors in sovereign Bangladesh, Rotary also started its activities in a modest way. After a couple of months, gradually Rotary began to consolidate its footing in the independent soil of the newly born country by making both internal and external extensions.
In Bangladesh since Rotary emerged, 205 clubs were organized and admitted to the membership of Rotary International of which 50 clubs were terminated from the membership due to various reasons mostly for nonpayment of dues. Now, Rotary International District 3280 which comprises the whole of Bangladesh has 160 Rotary clubs with more than 4,300 Rotarians plus their families, about 180 Rotaract Club, about 20 Interact Clubs and about 50 Rotary Community Corps (RCC).
Following is the year wise organizational choronology of the existing Rotary clubs in Bangladesh era. Charter to some clubs might have been granted in different Rotary year due to various reasons. In 1972-73 Jessore, in 1973-74 Dhaka South, and in 1974-75 Kushtia (dechartered) were organized. In 1975-76 Barisal, Dhaka North West and Gulshan came into being.
In 1976-77 the clubs organized were Agrabad, Hajibonj (decharted) Rajshahi, Jhenaidah (decharted), Ramna, Rangpur and Tangail (dechartered). 1977-78 Dhaka Midtown saw the light of Rotary. In 1978-79 Bogra (dechartered) and Dinajpur were organized. Khulna North, Moulavibazar (dechartered), Sreemangal and Sylhet (later renamed as Sylhet Central) were organized in 1979-80. In 1980-81 no club was started. In 1981-82 Metropolitan Dhaka came into being.
In 1982-83 Bagerhat, Dhaka West, Jamalpur, Khulna Midtown, Pabna and Thakurgaon (decharted) were organized.In 1983-84, Dhaka Central and Panchagore (dechartered) and Polash (dechartered) were the clubs to see the light of the day.
In 1984-85 when Bangladesh became an independent Rotary District, Dhaka Downtown, Greater Dhaka and Metropolitan Chittagong were organized. In 1985-86, Chittagong Midtown, Dhaka Cosmopolitan, Dhanmondi Dhaka, Faridpur, Jalalabad, Kishoreganj, Lalmonirhat, Savar (dechartered), Sherpur and Shyamoli-Dhaka were organized. In 1986-87 Brahmanbaria (dechartered), Chittagong Downtown, Dhaka North East, Gaibandha, Jessore East, Jhenidah (dechartered) and Noapara come into being. In 1987-88 Dhaka Buriganga, Dhaka Capital (dechartered), Maulvibazar Central, Metropolitan Khulna, Sylhet Midtown and Sylhet South were organized. In 1988-89 no club was started. In 1989-90 Kishoreganj Central (dechartered), Kushtia West, Motijheel, Maulavibazar Cenral, Natore (dechartered) Shahbagh, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and Sylhet Surma were organized. In 1990-91 Chandpur Central, Cox's Bazar Saikat, Gazipur, Habiganj, Islamabad, Jaipurhat (decharted), Narayangan Central, Narayanganj Midtown, Narsingdi, Rajbari (dechartered), Sunderban and Uttara were organized in 1991-92 Bogra Korotoa, Jahangirnagar Dhaka, Malvibazar Monu (dechartered) Munshigonj (dechartered) and Noakhali (dechartered), Netrokona (dechartered), Pirojpur, Sirajganj and Sunamganj (dechartered) came into being. In 1992-93 Mirpur Dhaka was organized. In 1993-94 Dhaka Uptown, Satkhira. Sonargaon Dhaka and Uttara Central (dechartered) were organized.
In 1994-95 Dhaka Midcity, Dhaka Newcity, Dilkusha, Eskaton Dhaka, Manikgonj, Naogaon (dechartered), Natore Banalata (dechartered) were established. In 1995-96 Dhaka Rose Vale and Rangamati (dechartered) came into being. In 1996-97 no club was organized. In 1997-98 Banani Dhaka and Derai Sunamganj came into being. In 1998-99 Feni Central and Maijdi Noakhali (dechartered) were organized. In 1999-2000 Bhairab, Chittagong South, Dhaka Paltan and Tangail Central were organized. In 2000-01 Mohasthan (Bogra) and Saidpur came into being. The following year in 2001-02 the growth was enormous, and Bandarban, Bogra Newtown, Brahmanbaria Titas, Chapai Nawabganj (dechartered) Chittagong East, Chittagong Rose Garden, Chittagong Sagarika, Comilla Lalmai, Dhaka Fort, Dhaka Urbana, Faridpur Newtown, Jessore Central, Julaora, Moulavibazar (dechartered), Kurigram (dechartered) Padma Rajshahi, Panchagarh Sadar (dechartered), Rajdhani Sonargaon and Rangpur Central were organized.
In 2002-03 Bakerganj (decharted) Barisal Kirtonkhola, Benapole (dechartered) and Dinajpur NOrth South were organized. In 2003-2004 Chittagong Hilltown Chittagong Ocean Blue, Chittagong West, Gulshan Lake City, Jhalakathi, Mainmamoti Comilla, Hajibong (Same name as earlier one), Khulna Central, Meghna Norsingdi, Metropolitan Sylhet, Moulvibazar Green Valley, (dechartered), Silkcity Rajshahi and Sylhet Garden City were organized in 2004-2005. Next year in Khagrachari (dechartered) Khulna Newtown, Mymensingh Town, Narayangonj Golden City, Narayangonj Portcity, Paharpur Naogaon, Potuakhali, Pirojpur (same name as earlier) Rupsha, Sylhet Holyland and Tongi were organized and the growth was also enormous and highest number in the history of the District. In 2006-07 Comilla Suth and Narayanganj Shitalakhya came into being. In 2007-08 Rajbari Chandana, Sylhet Sunshine and Sylhet Valley were organized. So far in 2008-09 7 Rotary Clubs, namely, Rajbari Chandana, Dhaka Orchid, Shantinagar Dhaka, Basundhara Dhaka, Feni Aparupa, Shahrasti and Rangmati Lake City were organized and chartered.
In this write up, inspite of sincere endeavour, if the name of the clubs has been inadvertently missed, the writer apology for the same. Correction from any quarter will be welcomed.
If we go back to the past a little and want to know about the changing scenario of our Rotary District, we will understand that at the initial stage when Rotary Club of Dhaka was formed, the District member was 88, but renumbered as 90 in 1942-43 and as 91 in 1946-47 and 5 in 1949-50. In 1961-62 the District was numbered as 325 and in 1965-66 it was re-numbered as 307. Again since later part of 1971-72 it was numbered as 325 and in 1976-77 the number was changed to 329. In 1984-85 when whole of Bangladesh became an independent Rotary District it was numbered as 328 and in 1991-92 this was remembered as 3280 which still continues to exist. The area of Bangladesh was served by 30 District Governors at different times since 1955-56, and 2 incoming governors are ready to take over. This part of the worth was visted by 17 Rotary International Presidents either at the time of their office or before and after their office.
The above write up may give us an idea about the organizational set up Rotary in Bangladesh. But more than that, Rotary has given to service and engineered a number of worthy humanitarian projects in Bangladesh which later on inspired and projected as models of many services oriented activities by both government and non-governmental organizations. The writer in future wishes to come up with actives of service rendered by Rotary if the Almighty wishes.
Research & Written by Rtn. PDG Prof.Jalal U. Ahmed
(DG 1991-92, Rotary International District 3280 Bangladesh)
