Describing Dhaka University (DU) as the lighthouse of all the achievements, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said that the institution would show others the path in turning people into human resources to compete with the rest of the world in wake of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
“It is my desire that the Dhaka University will start making human resources to compete with the world and the rest of the universities across the country will follow its path and thus we will advance our country towards prosperity,” she said.
The premier was addressing as the chief guest the inaugural session of the historic international e-conference titled “Celebrating the 100 Years of the University of Dhaka: Reflections from the Alumni-International and National” virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka.
Dhaka University had organized the conference from Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban at its campus this evening.
The prime minister said Bangladesh requires skilled manpower to survive by competing with others across the globe in the wake of the 4IR.
Dhaka University, she said, has to play the most significant role to this end as it did in the past in all the country’s democratic and progressive movements starting from the Language Movement, Education Movement, 1969 Upsurge and Liberation War to the movement against the 1/11 caretaker government.
The premier requested all concerned, particularly the university teachers and students, to conduct more research as nothing can be achieved without research.
She continued that becoming a self-reliant country in food production, the country’s digitization and its advancement towards prosperity have become possible due to emphasizing research work by her government.
“We want you people to give importance to research,” she said, assuring the DU authorities that her government will do everything to regain the lost glory of the university.
The premier said that after assuming office in 1996, her government was the first to provide separate allocations to universities for research purposes.
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni spoke at the function as the special guest while eminent economist Prof Rehman Sobhan read out the keynote paper.
DU VC Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman presided over the function while convener of the conference convening committee Prof Imtiaz Ahmed moderated it.
DU Pro-VC (Administration) Prof Muhammad Samad read out a citation on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while its Pro-VC (Academic) Prof ASM Maksud Kamal gave a vote of thanks to the premier and others for taking part in the event.
On behalf of the prime minister, the DU vice-chancellor earlier received a souvenir marking the birth centenary of the Dhaka University from its teacher Prof Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed.
