The 48th convocation of Dhaka University (DU) was held amid festive mood at central playground on the university campus.
President Abdul Hamid, who is also Chancellor of DU, presided over the function while Rolf-Dieter Heuer, Director General of European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) deliverd his speech as the convocation Speaker.
DU Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique and Pro-VC (Education) Prof Nasreen Ahmed addressed in the convocation programme. The gate was opened for graduates at 9:30am to enter the convocation programme. They started to come to the university from the early morning wearing convocation dress. The whole campus wore festive look.
The graduates were seen almost each and every important points like Aparajeyo Bangla, Curzon Hall area, Modhu’s Canteen, Razu Memorial Sculpture, Swaparjito Shadhinota Sculpture, Teacher-Student Center (TSC), Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), Arts Building, Mall Chattar, VC Chattar, Central Library and Shaheed Minar.
A total of 8,312 graduates (4,015 male and 4,297 female) received their degree certificates from the president. Among them were 38 PhDs, 25 M.Phils., 33 gold medalists, 33 MD-MS, 4,680 honours graduates, 855 masters, 282 BDS, 221 nursing graduates, 201 physiotherapists, one education faculty, 47 homeopathy and ayurvedic pass-outs, 103 B.Eds., and 72 M.Eds.
Cabinet members, MPs and diplomats, DU Deans, Syndicate members, Senate members, chairmen of the departments, DU teachers, officials, among others, attend the convocation.
Speaking on the occasion President Abdul Hamid on Monday underlined the importance of chalking out educational programmes by the country’s universities in line with the global job market.
“Educational programmes need to be worked out in line with the international labour market. In the present age, demand-based and job-oriented education is badly needed,” the President said while addressing the 48th convocation of Dhaka University, the country’s highest seat of learning.
The President said the importance of making one competitive at this age of globalisation is increasing day by day. “We have to groom up our students with profession-oriented conventional and non-conventional education to face the competitive world in all branches of knowledge and science.”
President Hamid, also the Chancellor of the university, said, “The nation expects much from Dhaka University. All concerned, including the teachers, students and guardians, have to come forward (to fulfill the expectation of the nation).”
He went on saying, “Student organisations also need to come forward to ensure a congenial academic atmosphere apart from pursuing positive student politics upholding the spirit of the Liberation War.”
He said education must combine pleasure, joy and affection for people, and humanity, culture, tradition, and knowledge. “And technology-based techniques must be infused in education.” Hamid further said, “We need the education that can create creative and enlightened people, not the certificate-oriented education or the kind of education which rely on reading textbooks and memorising guide books. I hope the education will become the open window for the locked chamber of darkness and superstition.”
