President Abdul Hamid stresses broader research for better higher education

President Md Abdul Hamid has emphasised broadening research areas to elevate higher education in Bangladesh to international standards.

Jahangirnagar University Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 5 Feb 2015, 05:53 PM
Updated : 5 Feb 2015, 07:07 PM

He made the call while speaking as the chancellor at the Fifth Convocation of Jahangirnagar University on Thursday.

"The sphere of higher education has got bigger because of the increase in number of universities in Bangladesh. But we'll have to act continuously to take the standards of higher education to international level," he said.

"The area of research will need be extended, too," he added.

The president termed the youths as the heart of the nation.

"Youths are the main agent of change in society. They will have to be skilled in modern technologies and science. They will have to be shown how to dream. Because, success does not come without dream," he said.

Addressing the postgraduates, Hamid said, "The convocation is giving you official acknowledgment as well as a duty; the duty to family, society and state."

The chancellor inaugurated the programme at 3pm. The old and new postgraduates gathered on the central ground of the university.

Registrar Abu Bakr Siddique moderated the programme.

Main speaker former Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain said, "It will not be proper to consider education as a commodity."

"The University Grants Commission (UGC) and the government will have to take a look whether the private universities are conducting their activities on their campuses within the law, closing outer campuses and have special arrangements for the poor students," he said.

He suggested making the prominent colleges in the district headquarters universities.
Main speaker former Chief Justice Muzammel Hossain said: "It won’t be proper to consider education a commodity."
"The University Grants Commission (UGC) and the government will have to look into whether the private universities are conducting their activities on their own campuses as per law, closing outer campuses, and have special arrangements for the poor students," he said.
He suggested upgrading ‘reputed colleges’ in the district headquarters to universities.
Justice Hossain urged the government and other relevant authorities to ‘adjust the educational structures’ with the expansion of work fields.
He said there was a need to change the educational structures developed just after independence.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said: “Our resources are limited. That’s why our public universities have to raise their own income. (They have to) find out ways to enhance cooperation with the private sector.”
He said the students had to be more responsible to protect the academic environment and reputation of the universities.
Vice-Chancellor Farzana Islam said, “Graduates are the goodwill ambassadors of this institution. We wait for arrival of these birds at the onset of every winter. Similarly, we’ll be waiting for the return of those who will be leaving this institution today.”
Stating that only three convocations were held in the last 18 years, she hoped that it would be held every year from now on.
Students were happy to join the convocation.
Arts and Humanities Faculty graduate Waliullah Oli told bdnews24.com: “I’m very happy to have the chance to join the convocation while still staying at the university.”
He said he would try to serve the country and help fulfil the dream of the people with the education he received from the institution.
President Md Abdul Hamid handed over degrees and medals to 8,558 graduates of different faculties and institutes.
Of them, 214 received PhD and 54 MPhil degrees and 18 gold medals.
The entire university area was covered with security blanket for the convocation, held amid the countrywide transport blockade being enforced by the BNP-led alliance since Jan 5.
Police, Special Security Force and RAB personnel were deployed on the campus.