Bangladesh set to eradicate poverty, eliminate extremism: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gives away certificate of honorary doctorate to OIC Secretary General Prof Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu at the 23rd convocation of the Islamic University of Technology in Gazipur yesterday. Photo: PIDUnb,Gazipur

Using education as an important weapon, Bangladesh is set to eradicate poverty, ensure food security and social safety net, eliminate extremism and face the fallout of climate change, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said yesterday.

The PM listed the priority tasks of her government when she made a call for the fresh graduates of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) to devote themselves to the noble mission of establishing peace in the strife-torn world and strengthening further the friendly relations among the Muslim countries.

Addressing the 23rd convocation of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) here, she expressed the hope that the graduates as enlightened persons would succeed in realising aspirations of their own and their parents as well as nations.

“I am urging you all to dedicate yourselves to establishing peace across the globe. Specially, I would tell the Bangladeshi IUT students to continue to keep contact with their foreign fellows and thus strengthen further the friendly relations among the countries of Muslim Ummah,” she said.

Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Prof Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, also chancellor of the university, was conferred on honorary doctorate by the IUT.

Hasina as the chief guest of the convocation handed over the certificate of the Honorary Doctorate Degree to the OIC chief executive.

Tabassum Aziz Hossain, a Bangladeshi student of Mechanical Engineering, was awarded OIC gold medal for scoring the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) among all the departments of the IUT.

Three other students -- Md. Rashedul Huq Shamim (Master of Science in Technical Education), SM Shahnewaz (Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Information Technology) and Abduhu Ruhul Hasin (Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering) -- received the IUT gold medals and certificates for highest CGPA numbers in their respective departments from the prime minister.

IUT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr M Imtiaz Hossain gave the address of welcome while Turkish Ambassador in Dhaka Sakir Ozkan Torunlar, also chairman of the governing body of the university, spoke at the function.

Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni and Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid were present on the occasion.

To the engineering graduates, Hasina said she believed that the friendships they have made here and the memories of this remarkable institute would continue to inspire them in the days ahead.

“I am sure you would also remember with deep gratitude all your teachers who dedicated themselves to preparing you for the next phase of your life,” she said.

She said Bangladesh would seek to work closely with IUT, OIC and IDB in establishing this institution as a centre of excellence and pride.

Hasina said Bangladesh believes education is the key to development and progress.

“Now, with the return of democracy, Bangladesh is ready to face all challenges on its way to peace, progress and prosperity,” she said.

In this context, the PM mentioned that the Islamic Development Bank has provided the IUT, on the guarantee of the Bangladesh government, a loan of 3 million Islamic Dinars for completing IUT's second building by December this year.

Besides, the IDB is also financing construction of dormitories and utilities to accommodate more students in future.

Congratulating the OIC secretary general on his receiving the doctorate, Hasina said much of the success of the OIC and the IUT is due to his commitment reflected in his Ten-Year Action Plan, adopted in Makkah in 2005.

“Therefore, the doctorate degree conferred on you by IUT is truly well deserved.”