Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Monday urged newly graduated students of the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) to ensure maximum utilisation of their merit and competence for the development of the country with utmost patriotism, honesty and sincerity.

She made the call while addressing the 18th graduation ceremony of MIST as the chief guest at Mirpur Cantonment in the city.

The minister urged all students to be empathetic to their parents, teachers and the common people of Bangladesh, said an ISPR release.

Congratulating all the graduates of 12 MIST departments, she emphasised on focusing on higher education through hard work to fulfill the dream of prosperous Bangladesh.

Dipu Moni also expressed the hope that the graduates will devote themselves to fulfilling the nation’s aspirations.

A total of 481 students completed their graduation this year. Of them, 418 were civil and 63 military students.

Maj Md Ziaul Islam off the Civil Engineering department was awarded Osmani Memorial Gold Medal for his outstanding academic performance.

Among others, Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed, Chief of Navel Staff Admiral Aurangzeb Chowdhury, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal M Abul Bashar, Principal Staff Officer Lt Gen Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Prof Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Abdullah Al Mahsin Choudhury, Maj Gen Md Emdad-Ul-Bari, Major General Md Wahid-Uz-Zaman were present on the occasion.

President Abdul Hamid on Monday asked all students to forge a strong social movement against drugs.  

"Various drugs are easily available across the country. Cumilla is one of the routes for drugs to enter the country. Drugs have reached the hands of school, college and university students. So, students must avoid these,” he said while delivering his speech at the first-ever convocation of Cumilla University held on its premises.   

Mentioning the names of several drugs, he said they had not even heard these names during their time. “Renowned personalities, intellectuals, journalists and public representatives should wage a social movement against drugs,” Abdul Hamid said.    

Students will have to play the leading role in preventing drugs from the society and encouraging people so that no one takes drugs and run this trade in the country, he said. "You (students) will to have to start a silent revolution against drugs."

Asking students to remain alert about the matter, he said, "I’m earnestly requesting you to motivate other students as well as people. Or else, the entire country and the future generation will be destroyed."

The President also called upon universities to take initiatives for quality research alongside regular academic activities. "In addition to teaching, quality research should be undertaken so that teachers and students can utilise the resources and possibilities of Bangladesh to get involved in the country’s progress," he said.

Describing universities as a development centre of practising knowledge, free thinking and humane value, Abdul Hamid, also chancellor of the Cumilla University, said effective, relevant and practical activities should be introduced with priority to science and technology for the spread of the higher education alongside the general education.

He said graduates should be equipped with modern and technological knowledge to survive in this competitive era of technology.

Abdul Hamid also underscored the need for establishing universities at a proportional rate to transform Bangladesh's vast youths into skilled human resources.

He also said the present government has taken initiative to establish universities in almost every district. "I firmly believe this initiative will play a positive role in making Bangladesh a prosperous country by 2041."

The President asked the graduates to always uphold the truth and justice. You must prevent corruption and wrongdoings with morality and firmness," he said.

He also said university is a place of study and knowledge, not a place for ragging or earning money. "Parents have to do hard work and many lose everything to pay for your education. So, don’t bring danger to your family and society indulging in greed. Don't be disappointed with the ups and downs of life. Deal those with courage."

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal delivered the convocation speech while Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury and University Grants Commission Chairman Prof Kazi Shahidullah, Cumilla University Vice-chancellor Prof Emran Kabir Chowdhury were present as special guests.

Altogether, 2,888 students were conferred upon graduation and post-graduation degrees and 14 of them awarded with gold medals.

The university was established in 2006 as the 26th public university of the country with seven functional departments.

Now, there are 19 departments, 7,055 students and 253 teachers.

Comilla University (CoU) is wearing a festive look as it holds its first convocation on Monday

President Abdul Hamid, the chancellor of the university, will attend the convocation while Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal will deliver the convocation speech.  

Deputy Minister of Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury and University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Dr Kazi Shahidullah will be present as special guests.

In the build up to the occasion, academic and administrative buildings, residential halls, and the main entrance gate have been decorated with lights.

Altogether 2,888 graduates are scheduled to attend the convocation while 14 students among them will be awarded gold medals, said university sources.

Comilla University was established in 2006 as the 26th public university of the country with seven functional departments.

Now there are 19 departments where 253 teachers are teaching 7,055 students, according to the university website.

Comilla University (CoU) has completed all necessary preparations to hold its first-ever convocation on Monday.

President Abdul Hamid, the chancellor of the university, will attend the convocation while Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal will deliver the convocation speech.  

Deputy Minister of Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury and University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Dr Kazi Shahidullah will be present as special guests.

In the build up to the occasion, academic and administrative buildings, residential halls, and the main entrance gate have been decorated with lights.

The new scholars already started collecting convocation outfits—gown, cap, bags, in a festive mood.

Altogether 2,888 graduates will attend the convocation while 14 students among them will be awarded with gold medals, said university sources.

Comilla University was established in 2006 as the 26th public university of the country with seven functional departments.

Now there are a total of 19 departments where 253 teachers are teaching altogether 7,055 students, according to the university website.

A special bus service was launched here for students as they can travel to any destination within the city for only Tk 5.

Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury inaugurated the 10 double-decker buses gifted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at MA Aziz Stadium in the morning.

Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ilias Hossain presided over the programme while GPH Ispat Lt Managing Director Md Almas Shimul, among others, was present.

The students will have to pay the fare in the bus’ ‘honesty box’ willingly and they can travel even if they do not have money.

One of the bus routes will be Bohddarhat to New Market through Badurtala, Chawkbazar, Gani Bakery, Jamalkhan, CheragiPahar, Andarkilla and Kotowali.

Buses will also run from Oxyzen Intersection to Agrabad, Muradpur, GEC and Wasa intersections and Tigerpass areas.

Abu Hasan Sidduque, additional deputy commissioner, (education, ICT), said students wearing school uniforms can travel in the 75-seat double decker buses.

Each of the buses will have four CCTV cameras which will be monitored from the DC office, he added.

He also said students of government and private schools, colleges and madrasas can go to any destination with the minimum fare Tk 5.