Rangpur: Vice Chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) Professor Dr Md Showkat Ali has emphasized the need for increased joint research projects and collaborations to tackle both local and global challenges. "For this, increased collaboration and sharing of research results among researchers from different universities around the world can play a significant role in meeting the challenges of achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs)," he stated.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr Md Showkat Ali made these remarks while addressing the closing ceremony of the 'First International Conference on Social Sciences' organized by BRUR's Faculty of Social Sciences at the city's BRAC Learning Center. The two-day conference, which concluded on Thursday evening, gathered academics, researchers, and students from the United States, the United Kingdom, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
The conference, themed 'Social Science Today and Sustainable Development: Trends, Dilemmas and Opportunities', featured 126 research presentations across 12 academic sessions. Dr Md Showkat Ali highlighted that the conference facilitated discussions on various practical and complex theories and issues within social sciences, generating new knowledge and ideas aimed at sustainable development within Bangladesh's socio-economic sector.
The Vice Chancellor underscored the potential impact of utilizing this new knowledge to achieve the SDGs within Bangladesh, particularly in the northern region. He urged researchers to position Begum Rokeya University as a global hub for research initiatives.
The closing ceremony also featured addresses by Vice Chancellor of Kurigram Agricultural University Professor Dr Md Rashedul Islam and Executive Director of South Asia Watch on Trade Economics and Environment of Nepal Dr Paresh Kharel. The event was presided over by the conference convener, Professor Dr Md Nazrul Islam of the Mass Communication and Journalism Department, with Professor Dr Md Elias Pramanik, Director of the Office of the Student Affairs, also addressing the audience.