Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today called upon students to play an active role in establishing a stable political environment to propel the country forward. The premier made this appeal while engaging with students from Dhaka University (DU) at Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium, located within the Social Sciences Faculty on the campus.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Prime Minister also encouraged students to learn a third language besides Bangla and English to enhance their employment opportunities globally. Approximately 156 students participated in the event, where the Prime Minister addressed various questions concerning government plans and initiatives.
Responding to Kaberi Azad, a master’s student from the Department of Drawing and Painting, Tarique Rahman emphasized the importance of political stability for institutional development and sustainable national growth. He highlighted the need for a stable environment and urged students to build public opinion through social media and other platforms.
The Prime Minister also stressed that while political parties naturally engage in politics, the main arena for such activities should be the parliament rather than street agitations. He underscored the significance of discussion, dialogue, and thoughtful decision-making in nation-building and urged students to be proactive and vocal when necessary.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated a national workshop organized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban on the DU campus. The workshop, titled ‘Transforming Higher Education in Bangladesh: Roadmap to Sustainable Excellence,’ aimed to modernize and sustain the country’s higher education system.
During the program, the Prime Minister also spoke about a government initiative allowing schoolchildren to visit parliament, enabling them to learn about Bangladesh’s democratic institutions. He recounted his experience visiting the British Parliament and expressed his aspiration to implement a similar system in Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister addressed issues raised by students, including accommodation shortages and irregularities in government recruitment. He acknowledged the challenges and attributed them to past corruption and financial mismanagement. Tarique Rahman highlighted the misuse of public resources in previous years and emphasized the government’s efforts to combat corruption.
He also addressed the international ranking of Dhaka University, noting that improper recruitment practices have hindered its global standing. He urged merit-based recruitment to enhance academic standards.
Finally, the Prime Minister discussed the importance of maintaining a strong connection with one’s mother tongue, sharing personal anecdotes to illustrate the significance of cultural and linguistic identity. The event was attended by DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. ABM Obaidul Islam and other distinguished faculty members, who presented a crest to the Prime Minister.