Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Tuesday warned of taking legal actions against the private universities failing to fulfill their conditions in running academic activities.
“There is no way other than taking legal actions against those private universities which have failed to fulfill their conditions to ensure a congenial atmosphere and shift to their own permanent campuses and try to run the universities for profit making. It has been difficult to bring them on the right track despite putting continuous pressure,” he said.
The minister issued the warning in his presidential speech at the 3rd convocation of the Stamford University of Bangladesh (SUB) at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the city, said an official press release here.
On behalf of the President and SUB Chancellor Abdul Hamid, the Education Minister chaired the convocation while prominent educationist Professor Dr AK Azad Chowdhury addressed it as the convocation speaker.
University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Abdul Mannan addressed the convocation as the special guest.
Nahid urged the private universities to come forward with a mind of serving the people and contribute in the education sector rather than making business and profits.
The minister also asked the private university authorities to keep all expenses, including the admission and tuition fees, within a limit considering the country’s reality and people’s socio-economic conditions.
“Universities have to practice knowledge, conduct researches, search for new knowledge and create new knowledge as the knowledge created by our universities can solve the basic and particular problems of the nation,” he said.
Alongside education, the new generation should be groomed up as the country’s responsible and patriotic citizens with honesty, morality and science-technologically skills, the Education Minister added.
“Attaching importance to the private universities, the government is monitoring the sector to ensure expected quality of the country’s higher education and to make the higher educational institutions world standard,” Nahid said.
Remarkable progress has been made in the education sector as the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken a breakthrough decision to bring changes in the sector, he added.
The minister asked the graduates to disseminate their acquired knowledge among the society’s less educated people with patriotism, honesty and sincerity.
“Your wisdom and talent should create encouragement to general people and introduce positive changes to workplaces and society,” he said.
A total of five graduates were conferred Chancellor Gold Medal while 19 others got Vice-Chancellor Gold Medal in the convocation.
SUB Trustee Board Chairman Fatinaz Feroz and Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Al Naki and Association of Private University of Bangladesh Executive Committee Member AKM Enamul Haque Shamim were present in the function, among others.
