Jessore Zilla School is the fifth oldest school in Asia, second oldest in Bangladesh and the oldest school in Jessore District southwest of Bangladesh. It was established on 3 February 1838 and named Jessore Zilla School in 1872. Though the school was established under a government order, it was founded originally with donations from local people. On 27 January 1845, the wife of the zamindar of Naldi Pargana made an annual grant of Tk 300 for running the school. The school received financial and other help from persons like Babu Ramratan, Nilkamal Pal Chowdhury, Raja Barodakanta Roy, Darakanath Thakur, Kunjalal Thakur, Moulavi Abdulllah, Mohammad Karim, Pranonath Chowdhury, Shukh Das Roy, Radhamohan Gosh Chowdhury and Kalikanta Poddar.