This was undertaken by the Roman Catholic priest community at the initiative of Archbishop Lawrence Graner and the decision of the Congregation of Holy Cross.

[4] In 1950, Notre Dame College became affiliated with Dhaka University, and by 1959, it had earned recognition as the foremost educational institution in East Pakistan.

Presently, the college offers higher secondary and BA courses in both English and Bengali mediums.

[4] Notre Dame College is among the four institutions granted the privilege to conduct its admission test, as decreed by the Bangladesh Supreme Court in 2012.

At the government's invitation, Archbishop Lawrence Leo Graner directed the Congregation of Holy Cross priests to establish distinct colleges for boys and girls.

Founded by the Roman Catholic clergy community, the college commenced with 19 students enrolled in the Arts and Commerce departments.

During that year, college students performed William Shakespeare's The Tempest for three consecutive nights on the premises of St. Gregory's High School.

"[14][15] During the academic year 1952-53, Notre Dame College received Dhaka University's approval to commence BA classes.

Subsequently, in the academic year 1953-54, Principal Richard William Timm inaugurated the college's first science department, conducting practical sessions within a tin room adjacent to the main building.

Subsequently, in 1959, it garnered recognition as the premier college in examinations held by various universities in East Pakistan.

[6] Following the completion of the new building in 1960, Principal James L. Martin succumbed to typhoid at Dhaka's Holy Family Hospital on 21 March.

[18] Notre Dame College faced disruptions in its teaching activities due to political turmoil, notably the 1968-69 mass uprising.

Despite government directives for normal operations during the conflict, like other institutions, Notre Dame College closed due to student absence.

In the war's final weeks, the institution's premises served as a Red Cross-UN safe haven, sheltering 44 UN officials.

Following the War of Independence, Principal Richard William Timm departed from his teaching role, engaging actively in the nation's reconstruction efforts.

He contributed significantly to the country's relief, and rehabilitation, and championed human rights initiatives through non-governmental development organizations.

Concurrently, students from Notre Dame College, accompanied by teachers, ventured to remote regions in support of relief and rehabilitation endeavours on behalf of the institution.

Roman Catholics associate Notre Dame with Mary, the mother of Jesus, hence the naming of the Catholic-run college after her.

[24][25] At the apex of Notre Dame College's emblem rests an open book, displaying the Greek letters Alpha (Α) on the left page and Omega (Ω) on the right.

Together, these symbols convey a profound message: Within this book resides the accumulation of ages past, and through its attainment, enlightenment shall grace life.

In the lower segment, a crucifix emanates from two intersecting anchors, denoting the emblem of the Congregation of Holy Cross.

The motto encapsulating this philosophy reads, "Notre Dame College Students: Dedicated, Creative, Skilled, and Responsible."

The institutional philosophy is as follows:"The mission of Notre Dame College education is to foster the holistic development of individuals—nurturing self-motivation, creativity, a service-oriented mindset, engagement, and proficiency in acquiring and applying knowledge.

[30] It was established on 29 August 1984 by Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, former lecturer of Notre Dame College and also the founder and chairman of Nature Study Society of Bangladesh.

Members of this club usually edit 'Dhak-Dhol Chit-Chat', the quarterly publication of Notre Dame College, Dhaka.

The activities of the club include Competitive programming, Graphics design, Content Writing, Robotics, Video Editing, etc.

Notre Dame College publishes students' quarterly magazine Dhak Dhol - Chit Chat.

Nishorga, the annual magazine of Notre Dame Nature Study Club is also worth mentioning.

[citation needed] Notre Dame International Understanding and Relation Club (NDIURC) also publishes its own annual magazine titled 'Jogajog' with a couple thousand circulations.

For the last few years, Notre Dame Natya Dal has been publishing Mancha, a magazine that depicts its activities and theater.