Lack of freethinking gives rise to intolerance

President Abdul Hamid yesterday expressed his disappointment at what he called "negative activities" in higher educational institutions.

"The nation is witnessing negative activities such as intolerance, extremism, militancy and fundamentalism at various higher educational institutions. I think this situation has emerged due to lack of freethinking and cultural activities," he said, speaking at the 10th convocation of Rajshahi University yesterday, reports UNB.

"Anti-liberation forces carried out evil activities at the educational institutions, especially at the higher education level, to destroy communal harmony by instigating fundamentalism and militancy after the assassination of the Father of the Nation," he said.

The president said there is no alternative to political leadership for the development of the country. "Leadership will be developed through student politics. In this case there will be no place for individual or group interests. The control of student politics will be in the hands of students, and there will be no place for any party influence. The student community has to play a leading role in this regard."

Meanwhile, centring on the convocation, the university wore a festive look yesterday, with the revelry of thousands of fresh and former graduates punctuating the usual calm of the campus, reports our RU correspondent.

For many, the ceremony was an end to a long wait, while many former students took the opportunity to see old friends and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Lakhmina Jasmin Soma, a graduate of mass communication and journalism, said, “It was a long-cherished dream. We are happy to see the president at the convocation.”

Anthropology graduate Arnika Akhtar said, “We are back on the campus after a long time. We met friends and chatted a lot. It felt like old days on the campus.“

Festivity apart, it was also the time for bidding farewell to their beloved campus.

Chemistry graduate Al Amin, who was taking selfies with his classmates, said, "I will never forget these memories. I will miss my campus.”

Around 6,014 students who earned their masters, MBBS, BDS, MPhil and PhD degrees between 2011 and 2014 received their degrees yesterday.

President Abdul Hamid inaugurated the event at the university stadium around 3:45pm, while Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid attended as special guest. Historian and Professor Emeritus Alamgir Muhammad Serajuddin was the convocation speaker.

During the ceremony, eminent writers Selina Hossain and Hasan Azizul Haque received DLitt degrees from the president.

Earlier, at 3:30pm, the president laid the foundation stone of two 10-storey dormitories -- one for male students named “Shaheed AHM Kamaruzzaman Hall” and the other for female students named “Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall”.

In his speech, RU Vice Chancellor Prof M Abdus Sobhan urged the graduates to uphold the dignity of the university and work for the development of the nation.