Carrying the banners, residents of Amar Ekushey Hall joined a colorful procession that paraded through the Dhaka University campus yesterday to celebrate the DU Day.

Several hundred resident and non-resident students in traditional dresses participated in the procession as the sound of drumbeats filled the air.

Vice-Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz led the procession from Teacher-Student Centre in the morning. Former VCs, distinguished personalities, teachers, students, alumni and others also took part in the procession, which was part of the daylong celebrations.

Festivity was in the air throughout the day as teachers, students and others marked the day with elaborate programmes. All the dormitories wore a festive look and special lunch was served at canteens and messes.

Former students and guardians also came to the campus to share the joy.

The Dhaka University Day was celebrated after a gap of 18 years. The last one was celebrated in 1989. This year, the Teacher-Student Centre organised the celebrations in cooperation with the DU Debating Society (DUDS) and DU Alumni Association (DUAA) while DU Journalists' Association (DUJA) and Baishakhi Private Satellite TV Channel were the media partners.

The daylong programmes began with the procession. Later, a discussion was held at the TSC with the participation of former minister Dr Osman Farruq, former VCs Prof Moniruzzaman Miah, Prof Emaz Uddin, Prof Shahid Uddin Ahmed and Prof AK Azad Chowdhury, deans of faculties, chairmen and directors of departments and institutions and provosts. Treasurer Prof Syed Abul Kalam Azad presided over the session.

Speaking at the discussion, Prof SMA Faiz said the people of the country are looking towards the students of the university with the hope that they would build a developed and prosperous Bangladesh.

"You, the students, will have to fulfil their dreams after preparing yourselves for this task by studying hard. You will have to prepare yourselves to meet the challenges of globalisation so that the 'Oxford of the East' can be proud of you all," he said.

He also stressed the need to set up a second campus of the university somewhere in the capital, saying that the present campus cannot accommodate all necessary infrastructure.

A debate competition was also held at the TSC, organised by the DUDS.

Two friendly soccer matches were also held. DU VC Eleven took on the DUAA President Eleven in the first match while Former Students' Eleven played against the Present Students' Eleven.

A cultural programme and concert were also held at the TSC in the evening.