CHITTAGONG: (pp.88-89)
The official report of 1824 makes no mention of indigenous
schools of learning, and it is probable that few exist in this
district. It is, however, stated that there is much land that has
been appropriated to charitable purposes, some for churches
and some for the benefit of the poor, but no endowments were
known at that time to exist for the benefit of education.
In 1827, the Collector of the district was directed to make
enquiries respecting a native institution supported by
endowment, and to report the result to government. He reported
that Meer Hinja had bequeathed lands for the endowment of a
madrasa, and that they then yielded for the purpose of
education not more than rupees 1,570 per annum, two-thirds of
the endowment having been judicially assigned to the founder’s
children in the year 1790; that with the remaining one-third the
then incumbent Maulavi Ali Machtulul Khan Kemoun professed
himself unable to keep up the institution on its then present
footing, which provided for the instruction of 50 students and for
the support of three teachers, one of Arabic and two of Persian;
that the number of students originally contemplated was 150;
and that the buildings consisted of a small mosque in good order
and two low ranges of attached houses for the dwelling of the
master and disciples, which were of little value. The Collector
suggested that the lands would realise twice their present rental,
if put up to the highest bidder by order of government; and
submitted that they should be so re-let, and the proceeds paid to
the Maulavi in monthly installments, who in return should
periodically submit his accounts and a report of the state of the
institution to the Board of Revenue for the information of
government. The Governor-General in Council approved this
suggestion and it was ordered accordingly.
TIPERA: (p.91)
I have no information regarding either common schools or
schools of learning in this district. Hamilton states, perhaps too
positively, that there are not any regular schools or seminaries
where the Hindoo and Mahomedan laws and religion are taught.
In reply to enquiries made by the General Committee the local
agents of government stated in 1823 that they could not discover
that any endowments or funds of a public nature exist in the
district, or that any grants have ever been made applicable to
the purpose of public instruction.