RAJSHAHI, Nov 18, 2014 - Terming the killing of Rajshahi
University Professor AKM Shafiul Islam as unexpected, President Abdul
Hamid today asked the authorities concerned to immediately arrest those
involved in it for exemplary punishment.
"I've been observing with grave concern that recently a professor of
social science department of Rajshahi University AKM Shafiul Islam was
killed . . . I' m shocked with the nation for such an incident," said
the President while speaking at the 4th Convocation of Rajshahi
University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) here.
He said a distinguished scholar of an institution of highest seat of
learning will be killed in this way is not expected to anyone.
"I urge the authorities concerned to immediately arrest the killers
and give them exemplary punishment for the gruesome killing" said the
President.
Congratulating the new graduates on the occasion of the convocation,
Abdul Hamid advised the graduates to devote themselves to the nation
building activities.
"You, the graduates, are the important human resource of the country .
. . today's convocation is giving recognition to your achievement and
on the other hand, it is also giving you responsibility towards your
family, society and above all towards the country and nation," said the
President who chaired the convocation as the chancellor of the
university.
Abdul Hamid said education is the first stair to build a nation.
Education doesn't mean only economic and social development, rather it
also means developing students intellectually with non-communal spirit,
and above all awakening deep patriotism, he added.
The President stressed the need for combining joy with education and
said that affection for people, humanity, culture, tradition, and
knowledge and technology-based techniques must be infused in education.
"We need an education that makes creative and enlightened people, not
the certificate-oriented education or the kind of education which rely
on reading of textbooks," he added.
Abdul Hamid said education is the key to entering the world of
enlightenment which has thousands of passages. "I hope the education
will open windows of the locked chamber of darkness and superstition . .
. education will teach us to shun narrowness . . . we want education
that will make bridge among the people," he added.
The objective of the higher education is to disseminate knowledge and
innovation of new knowledge apart from building skilled manpower, the
President said, adding, "To this end, country's universities have to
play role in creative activities, practicing free-thinking and
flourishing the freedom of thinking so that students can develop
themselves with non-communal spirit and leadership quality".
The President laid especial emphasis on research and said there is
inextricable link between education and research because new knowledge
is created through research which plays important role in fulfilling the
existing demands of the society.
"So the university teachers have to engage themselves in research," he added.
Terming the present age as the age of information technology, the
President said that there is no alternative but to develop efficient
engineer to face the challenges. Bangladesh has huge human resources, he
said and hoped that they would contribute to the national development
once they will be able to enrich themselves with knowledge of
information technology.
Noted educationist Dr Jamilur Reza Chowdhury delivered the convocation
speech while RUET vice-chancellor Dr Rafiqul Alam Beg gave welcome
speech.
A total of 2513 graduates were conferred degrees at the convocation.
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