East west university: East West University (EWU) held its Fall Semester 2026 Freshers' Reception Ceremony on Thursday at its campus in Aftabnagar, Dhaka, welcoming newly admitted students while commemorating the life and works of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam as part of Nazrul Year.
According to United News of Bangladesh, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed, who attended as the chief guest, emphasized that the regulatory body treats public and private universities equally, with merit being the primary consideration in allocating funds for higher education and research. He also mentioned that the government has already reduced VAT on private universities by 5 percent and that the UGC is working to reduce it by another 5 percent.
Congratulating EWU on its achievements over the past 30 years, Mamun Ahmed urged the newcomers to develop their skills and leadership qualities by actively participating in university clubs. Presiding over the ceremony, EWU Board of Trustees Chairperson and former Bangladesh Bank Governor Professor Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin stated that the university's vision, established three decades ago, of providing quality higher education to deserving students from lower-middle-income families has largely been realized. He highlighted that all surplus funds of EWU are reinvested in student development through various scholarship programmes.
EWU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Shams Rahman said the university equips students with academic knowledge as well as contemporary skills to help them build successful careers at home and abroad. Professor Dr. Anup Chowdhury, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics, and a representative of the newly admitted students also spoke at the ceremony.
The event concluded with a cultural programme marking 'Nazrul Year', featuring performances by the East West University Club for Performing Arts (ECPA) and renowned Nazrul Sangeet artiste Khairul Anam Shakil. Members of the EWU Board of Trustees, faculty members, officers, staff, and newly admitted students attended the programme.