Dhaka:President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged the country's higher education institutions to concentrate on world-class, job-oriented, and technical education to develop a skilled workforce. This statement was made during a courtesy call by a delegation from Eastern University at Bangabhaban on Wednesday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the President emphasized the necessity of prioritizing job-oriented, technical, and engineering education at all educational levels to address the nation's unemployment issues. He also highlighted the importance of overhauling the higher education system, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced digital technologies.
The delegation, led by Md Ismail Zabiullah, adviser to the prime minister on public administration affairs and a member of the university's Board of Trustees, included several key figures from Eastern University. Among them were the university's Board of Trustees Chairman Barrister Shafayet Mohammad Raju, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Farid Ahmad Sobhanie, founding chairman Abul Kashem Haider, and former chairman and board member Abul Khair Chowdhury.
During the meeting, the delegation updated the president on the university's progress in education and research, as well as its efforts to maintain international standards. They noted that Eastern University had won the Bangladesh round of the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition four times, including in 2026, and had invested over Tk 100 crore in scholarships for meritorious students.
The president also emphasized the need for private universities to stay abreast of the latest developments in science, technology, and knowledge. He urged institutions to enhance the country's international standing by improving higher education quality, expanding research, and fostering innovation.
Finally, the delegation congratulated the president on assuming office and invited him to attend the university's upcoming convocation as its chancellor, to which the president agreed. The president's Military Secretary and Press Secretary were also in attendance at the meeting.