Create congenial atmosphere for practice of free thoughts

President Iajuddin Ahmed gives away a gold medal to a successful graduate at the 3rd convocation of Chittagong University yesterday.Photo: PID

President Iajuddin Ahmed said the practice of free thoughts is the driving force for a university and obstruction to this would cause activities of the university come to a dead stop.
So, it is the moral responsibility of all to maintain the congenial academic atmosphere at the university at any cost, he said, adding that university is a place that creates and disseminates knowledge and contains ideals and values of a nation alongside playing vital role in fulfilling the dream and hopes of the nation.
Speaking at the 3rd convocation of Chittagong University yesterday, Iajuddin, also the chancellor of the university, said it is the main task of a university to keep the avenues open to help the students practise free thoughts imbued with the spirit of internationalism.
“The curriculum, subject selection and field of research of the universities should be made in such a way so that they are able to fulfil the expectation of the nation,” he added.
Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman was present as the special guest while eminent scientist Prof Emeritus Dr Jamal Nazrul Islam was the convocation speaker.
Congratulating the graduates, the president called on them to spread light of knowledge through their works, thoughts and spirit from society to society and nation to nation as well.
Iajuddin said, “Mind it, your earnings may not only appear as certificate-oriented. You will earn further knowledge and create the new stream of knowledge and sciences.”
Hossain Zillur said though education increased in quantity, the qualitative standard of higher education in the country is being questioned.
“Many of the universities have now appeared as the centres for distributing certificates instead of being fields for practising global knowledge, and holding seminars, workshops, discussions and researches” he regretted.
Convocation Speaker Prof Jamal Nazrul Islam underscored the need for collective effort in attaining the international standard of education.
Recruiting qualified teachers through proper system, accountability of the teachers, updated curriculum, modern teaching system and well-controlled academic calendar are the main things to ensure qualitative education, he added.
CU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr M Badiul Alam put up different developments and problems of the university.
Later, the president gave away a DSc degree to Prof Dr Jamal Nazrul Islam.
A total of 879 masters, honours, LLB, LLM and DVM graduates and 16 PhD, MPhil and MS (Medicine) degree holders were awarded the certificates.
Five students were given gold medals for winning positions in the “Chancellor Essay Competition.”