DHAKA, Oct 06, 2018 – President M Abdul Hamid today asked the youths, specially the new graduates from Dhaka University, to lead the nation-building activities to build a hunger and poverty-free “Sonar Bangla” dreamt by Father of the Nation.

“We have just achieved our independence but the struggle for nation-building is yet to end . . . The country did not get rid of exploitation-deprivation-hunger-illiteracy till date,” he said, addressing the 51th convocation of Dhaka University (DU) held at its central playground this noon.

“You’re the future of the nation. The country will be prosperous and developed under your leadership. You have to lead an ideal life,” the President, also the chancellor of the university, told the new graduates.

He advised them not to compromise with untruth and injustice and to keep their conscience awake.

Comparing the student politics at present and in the past, he said the student politics of the 60s was fully depended on ideal students’ movement where there was no interest of any individual or quarter.

The Chancellor highly appreciated the initiatives taken by the Dhaka University authority over holding of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) polls and asked the general students to remain alert so that no conspiracy of any vested quarter can hinder the DUCSU polls process in any way.

“The DUCSU election will help holding elections in other universities and colleges in days to come,” he said, adding that the real students would lead the student politics.

Abdul Hamid was very critical of the country’s present political scenario and urged the political parties to ensure utmost professionalism in politics to bring qualitative change in politics of the country.

“Only the politicians, who do politics since boyhood, will do politics,” said the veteran politician and former speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad.

Referring to the diploma and evening courses in the public universities, President Hamid urged university authorities to think whether the practice of giving degrees in the name of diploma and evening courses is affecting the normal academic atmosphere and the tradition of the universities.

The university authority must consider the greater interest of the students and give priority to the interest of the general students, he opined.

President Hamid asked all concerned to take necessary steps for the overall development of Dhaka University in the greater national interest.

Mentioning Dhaka University as the highest seat of learning in the country, he said this university has been playing the role of a steersman to fulfill the expectation of the nation.

He asked the university authority to recast and expand different departments considering the demand of time and global manpower market.

National Professor Anisuzzaman delivered the convocation speech. A total of 21,111 graduates took part in the convocation. Of them, 72 received gold medals from the President.

DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, cabinet members, prime minister’s adviser, Members of Parliament (MPs), heads of diplomatic missions, former and incumbent vice-chancellors of different universities, national professors, DU syndicate and senate members, among others, were present on the occasion.

The DU convocation programme was screened on Dhaka College and Eden College campuses simultaneously through video conference.bss