Bangladesh’s Sylhet diocese opens first Catholic college

The Diocese of Sylhet in Bangladesh inaugurated as new school — Notre Dame School and College — in the town of Sreemangal on July 22.

“I am very happy and delighted to inaugurate this [school] that will promote higher education for young generation in the Diocese of Sylhet as well as those of other faiths," said Archbishop Bejoy N. D’Cruze of Dhaka.

The prelate, who is president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh, led the inaugural ceremony with at least 35 priests from all over the country in attendance.

Archbishop D’Cruze expressed his gratitude to foreign missionaries who brought the faith and started the educational institutions in the country. “Now, local missionaries will continue their work,” said the arrchbishop.

Father Placid P. Rozario, the head of the college, said the new institution is the first college in the diocese.

“[We] have five schools, but we didn't have any college,” he said. “Now our needy students can study here instead of going to Dhaka,” added the priest.

"The new Notre Dame School and College is our another milestone for preaching the Gospel,” he said.

Father James Cruze, CSC, provincial superior of the Holy Cross Fathers in Bangladesh, said the school has already completed its admission process for 2021 and has already 630 students.

The priest expressed his gratitude to the Congregational Solidarity Fund, the Mission Center in the United States, and other donors who helped make the project possible.

The Holy Cross missionaries fathers arrived in Bangladesh in 1950 and established several schools that are considered among the best in the country. - Nikhil Gomez / RVA News