Dhaka Commerce College: A Legacy of Business Education in Bangladesh
Dhaka Commerce College (DCC), a master's level college in Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh, holds a distinctive place in the nation's educational landscape. Established in 1989, it distinguished itself as the first college in Dhaka city to specialize in business studies, offering education in both Bengali and English mediums. This article delves into the history, development, academic structure, extracurricular activities, and overall significance of Dhaka Commerce College.
Genesis and Establishment
The seeds of Dhaka Commerce College were sown in 1986 with the formation of a project implementation committee. This committee, spearheaded by Kazi Md. Nurul Islam Faruky, Associate Professor in the Department of Management at Dhaka College, aimed to create a specialized institution for Business Studies. The committee also included ABM Abul Quashem, then Education Inspector, as co-convener, M. Helal, Editor of the monthly University Campus, and S.R. Mojumdar.
Dhaka Commerce College was founded to provide focused commerce education in both Bengali and English mediums. Key founding members included Prof. Shafayet Ahmed Siddique, principal of Agrabad Girls’ College in Chittagong; Prof. Dr. Md. Habibullah from the Department of Accounting at Dhaka University; Prof. Kazi Md. Nurul Islam Faruky, associate professor in the Department of Management at Dhaka College; A.F.M. Sarwar Kamal, deputy secretary in the Cabinet Ministry; Md. Shamsul Huda FCA, director of Nobab Abdul Malek Jute Mills; A.B.M. Abul Quashem, inspector of education; Md. Abul Baser, principal of Azam Khan Commerce College in Khulna; and M. Helal, editor of the monthly University Campus.
The college officially commenced its journey on July 1, 1989, initially operating from King Khaled Institute in Lalmatia, Dhaka. It subsequently moved to a rented site in Dhanmondi 8/A before finding its permanent home on Bangladesh National Zoo Road, Mirpur, on January 22, 1995. Shamsul Huda served as the first Principal, followed by Professor Kazi Md. Nurul Islam Faruky, who held the position from August 1990 to September 2010. ABM Abul Quashem then took over as Acting Principal, and since March 2012, Professor Md. Abdur Rashid has been at the helm.
Evolution and Expansion
In the 1994-95 session, the college expanded its academic offerings to include Honours and Master's programs, securing approval from the National University. Four-year BBA Professional courses were introduced in the 1997-98 session, further solidifying the college's commitment to comprehensive business education.
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The foundation for the permanent campus was laid on January 2, 1994, on 2.07 acres of land. Diversifying beyond traditional business studies, the college introduced the Science stream in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) program.
Infrastructure and Facilities
Dhaka Commerce College boasts a well-developed infrastructure to support its academic activities. The infrastructure includes two main academic buildings: Academic Building-1, an 11-story structure inaugurated on January 2, 1994, with a total floor area of 10,600 square feet; and Academic Building-2, a 15-story building with 7,000 square feet of floor area, whose foundation was laid on July 5, 1997. An Administrative Building, with foundation laid on December 28, 1994, features 3,400 square feet per floor.
To provide residential support, Dhaka Commerce College features a dedicated female students' hostel, a six-storied facility offering 72 seats with integrated food and accommodation services, located at Rupnagor Road No. 6 to ensure accessibility for female students commuting from distant areas. Complementing this, the college maintains general residential buildings for staff, including two 12-storied structures-Residential Building-A with 22 flats completed in 2015 and Residential Building-B with 44 flats finished in 2011-as well as accommodations for approximately 50 employees in Nobaber Bag and five families at Rupnagor Road No. 2.
Academic Structure and Departments
Today, Dhaka Commerce College offers Business Studies at the higher secondary level, along with undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Management, Accounting, Marketing, Finance & Banking, English, and Economics. The college educates from HSC level to post graduate level. There are twelve departments in the college. Course offering includes the Higher Secondary course and a broad range of postgraduate courses in accounting, economics, English, finance, management, marketing, statistics and Bangla.
Dhaka Commerce College organizes its academic structure around several specialized departments focused on commerce, business, and supporting disciplines. The key departments include:
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- Accounting: Established to provide foundational expertise in financial reporting and auditing.
- Management: Employs experienced educators with advanced degrees in business administration, facilitating instruction in organizational behavior and strategic planning.
- Marketing: Highlights consumer behavior and market research, supported by faculty trained in specialized marketing methodologies.
- Finance and Banking: Focuses on financial analysis and banking operations, with staff possessing qualifications such as MBA in Finance.
- Economics: Covers micro and macroeconomics, staffed by economists with postgraduate credentials.
- English: Provides instruction in English language and literature.
- Bangla: Focuses on Bengali language and literature.
- Computer Science and Engineering: Offers training in computer science and engineering.
The college employs over 150 academic staff members, including professors, associate professors, assistant professors, and lecturers, who collectively deliver Honours, Master's, BBA, and MBA programs across these departments. Faculty qualifications typically include bachelor's honors, master's degrees, and doctorates from institutions affiliated with the National University of Bangladesh, enabling them to mentor students in both theoretical and applied aspects of commerce education.
Departmental activities extend beyond classroom teaching to include seminars, workshops, and specialized training in business studies, fostering professional development among students. For instance, the Management Department organizes annual Management Week events featuring seminars on contemporary business issues, while the Accounting Department conducts training sessions on auditing standards. The Finance and Banking Department maintains a seminar library with over 3,000 books and hosts alumni-led workshops on financial welfare. Study tours, such as those to Cox's Bazar for Marketing students, provide practical exposure, and the Computer Science and Engineering Department offers IT training programs to support emerging technologies in commerce.
Faculty growth has paralleled the college's expansion, increasing to 159 members to accommodate new programs like Science HSC and CSE Honours, ensuring adequate staffing for diverse academic offerings since the institution's founding in 1989.
Academic Achievements and Recognition
Dhaka Commerce College has consistently demonstrated strong academic performance, particularly in examinations affiliated with the National University of Bangladesh. The institution has also received "Best College" awards from the Ministry of Education in 1996 and 2002, acknowledging its early excellence in academic standards and student outcomes under National University affiliation.
In Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, Dhaka Commerce College has maintained high pass rates, achieving 99.75% in the 2022 cohort, with 2,795 out of 2,802 students passing. Cumulatively from 2003 to 2018, 6,538 students attained a perfect GPA of 5.00 in HSC exams conducted by the Dhaka Education Board.
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The National University (NU) listed Dhaka Commerce College in the top five colleges as the best among 685 in the country for their outstanding performances. Dhaka Commerce College was awarded as the best private college in Bangladesh in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2023.
Extracurricular Activities and Student Life
Dhaka Commerce College fosters a vibrant extracurricular landscape that emphasizes student development in a politics-free and smoking-free environment, as upheld by the institution's core policies. Student organizations actively promote these principles, ensuring campus activities remain focused on personal growth, leadership, and community service without political interference or tobacco use.
Cultural activities form a cornerstone of student life, utilizing the college's modern auditorium for seminars, performances, and events. The annual Cultural Week, held since 1990, features competitions in singing, dancing, acting, recitation, general knowledge, debating, and art, alongside observances of national holidays like Independence Day and Victory Day. Various clubs enhance these opportunities, such as the Debating Club for rhetorical skills, Drama Club for theatrical productions, Dance Club for performances that have brought accolades to the college, Music Club for musical events, Recitation Club for poetry workshops and reading fairs, and Language Club for extempore speeches, spelling bees, and writing contests. The Readers and Writers Club and Arts and Photography Club further encourage creative expression through publications like wall magazines and souvenirs. Sports and physical activities leverage the gymnasium and expansive playground to promote fitness and competitive spirit as integral co-curricular elements.
Community-oriented clubs extend extracurricular involvement beyond campus, emphasizing social responsibility. Key events organized by XDCCIAN include two major reunion programs held in 2010 and 2015, which brought together alumni for networking and reminiscence, as well as the XDCCIAN Iftar Mahfil on 29 March 2024.
Dhaka Commerce College: A Comparison
It's important not to confuse Dhaka Commerce College with Dhaka City College (Bengali: ঢাকা সিটি কলেজ) also known as DCC, is one of the oldest private colleges in Bangladesh. It is located at Road Number 2, Dhanmondi, Dhaka. The college was established in 1957, during the Pakistani ruling period, with the patronage of local educators and social workers. Classes were held at the West End High School and afterwards at Dhaka College. One of the colleges of Dhaka Education Board, Dhaka City College provides education in Science, Business Studies and Humanities in the Higher Secondary School Certificate. There are a total of 9 departments in this college.
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