‘Unite against dishonesty’

President Abdul Hamid yesterday urged all to forge a greater unity against all types of syndicates of dishonest persons and organisations.

“Transport owners and workers have unity. Dishonest traders, profiteers and hoarders are united too, but we [general people] lack such harmony,” he said, reports BSS.

The president said this while addressing the 13th convocation of Brac University at Army Stadium.

Referring to the recent spate of price spiral of essentials including onion, salt and rice, he condemned the situation that caused sufferings to people. “We have to face the situation together to stand against it,” said the president.

If the price is not within one’s limit then he or she has to avoid using onion, he said. “Onion is a perishable product. If we don’t eat onion for a month, dishonest businessmen will be forced to sell it at a lower price,” said Hamid, reports UNB.

The head of state also called upon countrymen to remain alert against rumors over stocks of essentials. “The media needs to campaign properly against it,” he said.

He urged all to not pay heed to propaganda in this regard.

Turing to the education sector, President Hamid said education without quality is meaningless.

“One of the biggest challenges for Bangladesh is to ensure quality education. It must be ensured so that higher education does not become just certificate-based,” he stressed.

At the same time, the president said, it is also necessary to ensure the quality of educational institutions and their transparency and accountability for the development of the nation, formation of a better society and creation of world-class graduates.

“The government is aware of this and various projects have been undertaken to improve the quality of higher education,” Hamid, also the chancellor of the university, added.

“Students should not confine themselves to textbooks only...,” he suggested.

He urged graduates to work for the betterment of the country. “You are now stepping into your professional life… remember, there is no end to acquiring education, knowledge and experience.”

At the event, 3,250 students were conferred graduation degree. Of them, four received the Chancellor’s Gold Medal from the president.

Former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon was the convocation speaker.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Chairperson of Brac University’s Board of Trustees Tamara Hasan Abed and Vice Chancellor of the university Prof Vincent Chang spoke on the occasion, among others.