‘Be vocal against adulteration’

President Abdul Hamid yesterday urged all, especially students, to raise voice against food adulteration.

“I’ve visited many countries... But I didn’t see any food adulteration there, even not in our neighbouring India and Nepal,” he said.

The president said this while addressing the 5th convocation of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) on its campus.

He advised students launch a campaign in this regard to make people aware. He also called upon politicians, teachers and conscious citizens to work together.

Terming technology a tool for development, President Hamid stressed the need for innovation. “You’ll have to focus on innovating time-befitting and suitable technologies,” he said.

There is no alternative to creating skilled engineers to meet challenges of the 21st century, he said. “Despite having huge human resources, we cannot move forward up to the expected level as we don’t have the desired level of technical and technology-based education,” the president said.

Hamid said the government has put special emphasis on technical and technology-based education. Science and technology universities are being set up in different districts and long-term plans have been undertaken to upgrade those to international standards.

Hamid, also chancellor of the university, said Bangladesh is regarded as a role model of development in terms of socio-economic progress.

“The education system is changing fast. We should put emphasis on pragmatic and practical education,” he said. 

He said the role of engineers is unique in every field, from infrastructure to industrial, factories, power and telecommunications to marines, information technology, aerospace and research. Engineers are crucial to implement the plan Bangladesh has taken to become a prosperous country by 2041, he added.

Yesterday, 2,586 graduates registered their names in the convocation.

Of them, 597 are from two departments under civil engineering; 1,066 from three departments under electrical and computer engineering, and 853 from four departments under mechanical engineering.

Seventy postgraduates, including nine for PhD, 45 for MSc engineering, 10 for master’s in engineering and 10 for MPhil degrees also registered their names.

Director of Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute, USA Saifur Rahman attended the event as the convocation speaker while Ruet Vice Chancellor Rafiqul Islam Sheikh delivered the welcome address.