Dhaka Bureau: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “Dhaka University’s incomparable contribution to socio-economic development and creation of the nation-state of Bangladesh will forever be remembered.”
In a speech given on the occasion of the 53rd convocation of Dhaka University tomorrow, November 19, the Prime Minister said, ‘I believe that the students of Dhaka University will apply their acquired knowledge, intellect and creativity with patriotism, honesty and devotion to fulfill the father of the nation’s hunger-free and poverty-free dreams by 2041. They will make an important contribution to the construction of Bangladesh from their respective positions.’
On the occasion of the convocation, he extended his sincere greetings and congratulations to all the graduating students, their parents, current and former students, esteemed faculty and officers and employees and said, ‘I am happy to know that Dhaka University, a centenary educational institution famous as the Oxford of the East, is celebrating its 53rd convocation. ‘
The Prime Minister said, ‘Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a young student of the law department of this university, was the first to understand the fact that the state system created in this subcontinent after the breakup of British India in 1947 was not a safe abode for the Bengali speaking people. First of all, he played an active role in building the movement to make Bengali the state language and eventually became the father of the Bengali nation, Bangabandhu, the great architect of independence, the great hero of Bengali history and the greatest Bengali of all time. This university has witnessed many movements under his leadership.
He said, the students-teachers, officials-employees of Dhaka University were the frontline fighters in the language movement of 1952 to protect the nation’s language-based independence spirit, the independence movement based on the six points announced by the Father of the Nation in 1966. The students-teachers-officers and employees of this university played a leading role in the Great War of Liberation in 1971 at the call of the Father of the Nation. Many of them have been martyred.
Sheikh Hasina said, “The students-teachers-staff of this university have been continuously providing leadership from the forefront in all the democratic movements after independence, the development of non-communal cultural entities and the fulfillment of the hopes and aspirations of the people of the country.” Since its establishment till today, this Mahiruh Vidyatana is enriching the entire country with knowledge and science by creating an unprecedented combination of thinking and humanity with unique skills.
He said, “Under the visionary guidance of the father of the nation, the University Grants Commission was established in 1973 by announcing the University Ordinance, the main message of which was to create an environment of freedom of thought and free-intellectual practice in the university.”
Pointing out that the Awami League government is working relentlessly in the overall development of the education sector to ensure equal opportunities for quality education for all, the Prime Minister said, ‘Appreciable success has been achieved in the education sector as a result of various timely initiatives taken by our government in the last 14 years. The number of public and private universities in the country has been increased to bring the facilities of higher education to the doorsteps of the people. To overcome the impact of coronavirus, we have emphasized on technology-based modern and science-based education system to accelerate the development of education. We have taken various steps to ensure the benefits of ICT and digital technology in education management and educational programs to develop skilled human resources with knowledge of science and information technology to meet the challenges of globalization and the fourth industrial revolution.
He said that the government has taken and implemented various initiatives for the development of education and research in Dhaka University. Various halls and buildings have been constructed to solve the housing crisis of teachers, students, officers and employees. Besides, since 2009, 17 new departments, 3 institutes and 22 research centers have been opened in Dhaka University for the development and expansion of education and research.
The Prime Minister said, ‘Through more advanced research, I believe that Dhaka University will play an active role in overcoming any crisis in the future and will advance in all branches of knowledge including education-research, science and technology in keeping with the rapidly changing world. As an ex-student of this university, I hope that Dhaka University creates new horizons in the journey of knowledge and light.
He wished for the overall success of the 53rd convocation of the glorious Dhaka University.
