Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan urged the students to take up politics as a career to serve the nation.
"Bangladesh needs smart and honest people in politics. If you don't come into politics, the changes we talk about cannot happen," he said.
"In a country of 180 million people, there is only one Nobel Laureate. We don't have any Nobel winner in subjects like medicine, physics, chemistry, even literature or economics. I urge teachers to instill this dream in the minds of our students," the adviser added.
He made the remarks while addressing as the chief guest of the 17th Convocation of BRAC University (BRACU) on its campus at Merul Badda in the capital on Thursday.
A total of 2,055 graduates from 34 programmes received their degrees during the event, organised with the theme "Make the Difference". Of them, two were awarded Chancellor's gold medals and 28 Vice-Chancellor's gold medals.
The chief guest presented the Chancellor's gold medals, whereas BRACU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar handed over the Vice-Chancellor's gold medals.
"Your future will not be bequeathed to you by others. You have to become the architect of your own future," said convocation speaker Professor Adam Habib, an anti-apartheid activist and VC of SOAS University of London.
"And if you have agency, remember that what you also require is leverage. There will be many in your paths, who will want to be architects of alternative futures," he added.
Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar told the students, "I hope that as you walk through life, you will not forget what we have taught you here - human welfare."
"You will have to determine the future of the society, the country and the world. This is also a kind of challenge for you. We all are unique. As human beings, our job is to use that uniqueness in the service of people."
The BRACU VC also said changes should be used to unite society and to move the entire society forward together.
"The most urgent need in our world now is for understanding and connection. The quest for identity that we all share should be the catalyst for that - not for division," said Tamara Hasan Abed, Chairperson of the BRACU Board of Trustees, in a speech - read out by Pro-VC Professor Arshad Mahmud Chowdhury.
"Before my father, the founder of this university, passed away - some of his last words were - I am glad that my life was not wasted. I urge you all to choose a path that will also allow you to say, one day in the future, that your life is not wasted," she added.
Chancellor's Gold Medal recipient Rana Tabassum delivered speech as the valedictorian. She said bringing about changes does not require many grand actions. Rather, meaningful change begins with small steps, and the initiation of that change must come from individuals themselves.
A speech of special guest Professor Md Saidur Rahman, Member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, was read out by Khairul Basher, Director of the BRACU Office of Communications.
sajibur@gmail.com