From Rejection to Recognition: How Dhaka University Changed My Life Forever

In the B-Unit admission examination, I failed the written English section—whether deservedly or undeservedly is a different question. As a result, I lost the opportunity to study at the University of Dhaka. Yet I carried no regret, no frustration. I knew who I was, and I had unwavering faith in my own abilities.

Ironically, I failed in the very subject in which failure should have been least expected. The passing mark at that time for the written English section was 8, while I earned 7.8. Remarkably, my MCQ score was exactly the same as that of the candidate who secured first place in the entire B-Unit examination. We were both students of the top batch at UCC. If I had received only the minimum qualifying score of 8 in the written English section, I would have been among the very top.

No one at the coaching centre could believe that I had not made it to Dhaka University. At UCC, I was regarded as a “special student.” Coming from a small town out of Dhaka, I gradually outperformed many of the country’s brightest students, astonishing both teachers and classmates.

It did not stop there. As I began identifying errors in UCC’s books and study materials, teachers and authorities of the coaching center became even more surprised. Gradually, I developed a unique relationship with the institution. Kamal Patowary, the Director of UCC, once described me as a ‘friend.‘ He told me, “I have seen many brilliant students, but I have never encountered anyone quite like you.”

I gave UCC my very best. My intellectual contribution is embedded in many of its books and study materials. Eventually, manuscripts written by teachers were sent to me before going to print so that I could review and correct mistakes.

Even today, UCC remembers me. Whenever I visit their Dhaka office, Kamal Patowary warmly invites me to sit beside him, treats me with great affection, and often surprises me with thoughtful gifts.

That unexpected failure in Dhaka University’s English examination ignited an intense determination within me. I made a promise to myself: I would study English and prove my worth. That is why I eventually abandoned the path of law and enrolled in the Department of English at the University of Chittagong. Many questioned my decision, but I never allowed their opinions to shape my future. Today, I can confidently say that I have fulfilled that promise.

The very university where I could not study because of a failed English paper now cites my articles in its theses and research. I have the privilege of sitting at the same table with many of its distinguished professors, exchanging ideas, participating in seminars, symposiums, conferences, and engaging in meaningful conversations. 

Beyond that, my writings are now used as reference materials in Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations and at universities both at home and abroad. The English that once denied me admission has become the very language in which my writing style is now admired and emulated by many.

The University of Dhaka helped ignite the fire that already existed within me. If I had not faced that disappointment, I might never have awakened my true self, discovered my own potential, or become the person I am today. I might simply have remained an ordinary individual.

That experience taught me one of life’s greatest lessons: rejection, neglect, setbacks and hardship are not always obstacles—they are often the very forces that shape greatness.

Every setback I have encountered has been transformed into strength. Every wound has become a source of wisdom. I have learned to forge success from adversity and to refine myself through every trial I have endured.

Thank you, University of Dhaka, for being an enduring source of inspiration in my journey. I am truly grateful to you! 

The University of Dhaka began its journey on 1 July 1921. Over the course of its long and distinguished history, the university has produced countless eminent scholars, visionary leaders, renowned intellectuals, and influential personalities who have left an enduring mark on Bangladesh and the world. Happy 106th DU Day!

The University of Dhaka is not merely an educational institution. Its history is inseparably linked with the birth of a nation and the triumph of a language. That legacy is a source of immense pride for Bangladesh. Yet preserving the quality, dignity, and global standing of such an institution is an equally sacred responsibility.

Today, serious questions are being raised about the standards and condition of the University of Dhaka, as well as the country’s leading public universities. Why have these institutions declined? Why has such an unfortunate situation emerged?

Our public universities no longer command the stature they once did. It is time to rebuild the University of Dhaka—along with all of Bangladesh’s leading public universities—on the foundations of academic excellence, integrity, and intellectual distinction. Otherwise, these institutions risk losing their very identity in the years to come.

Emran Emon is an eminent journalist, columnist and a global affairs analyst. He can be reached at [email protected]