President M Abdul Hamid has urged Bangladeshis to forge unity against dishonest traders, profiteers, plunderers and hoarders who create fake crisis of essentials.
“Transport owners and workers have unity amongst them. The dishonest traders, profiteers, hoarders and plunderers are united too, but we (people) have not such unity . . . Now we have to forge unity against all misdeeds,” he said, addressing the 13rd convocation of the Brac University at Bangladesh Army Stadium in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon.
Referring to the recent spike in prices of essentials including onion, salt and rice, he condemned the situation that has caused sufferings to the common people, reports BSS.
The head of the state also called upon the countrymen to remain alert against the rumour over the stocks of essentials, including onions, salt and rice. “The media has to do campaign properly against it.”
Expressing grave concern over the price hike of essentials during the holy month of Ramadan, he said: “People in other countries reduce prices of necessary commodities ahead of their respective religious festivals and even the people of Middle East also do that during Ramadan . . . But in Bangladesh, we see a different scenario as the prices of cucumber, brinjal and other essentials go up then.”
People must forge unity against these misdeeds, the head of the state said.
Speaking at the convocation, President Hamid asked all concerned to ensure that higher studies never be for earning certificates only, because education without quality learning is worthless.
“Education without quality learning is valueless . . . It has become one of the big challenges for Bangladesh to ensure quality education,” he said.
Abdul Hamid, also the chancellor of the university, said ensuring quality learning, transparency and accountability in educational institutions is imperative for national progress, building a developed society and producing world-standard graduates.
“Students should not be confined to the study of textbook curriculum only . . . To build an ideal nation, it is very urgent to impart moral education and simultaneously to know the history of Bangladesh,” he suggested.
Referring to the tremendous development carried out the incumbent government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in different sectors, including education, President Hamid said, the government is firm in ensuring an improved education system keeping in mind the fourth industrial revolution.
He asked the graduates to make combined efforts to build Bangladesh a developed country by 2041.
Congratulating the graduates, the president said: “Being graduates, you are proceeding towards working life … There is no end to acquiring education, knowledge and experience.”
Advising the graduates to utilize their wisdom for the betterment of Bangladesh, the president said: ”The nation has enormous expectation from you and you have to engage your merit and work to establish Bangladesh as a role model globally.”
A total of 3,250 students were conferred graduation degrees in different subjects. Of them, four were given gold medal awards for academic excellence.
Former United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon was present as the convocation speaker on the occasion.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, MP, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, MP, Chairperson of Brac University’s Board of Trustees Thamara Hasan Abed, Vice Chancellor of Brac University Professor Vincent Chang and student of Computer Science and Engineering department Oritra Roy Arch, among others, spoke on the occasion.