Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday greeted everyone on the occasion of the 103rd founding anniversary of Dhaka University (DU), the country's highest echelon of academic excellence, to be celebrated on Monday.
"I am happy to know that the historic Dhaka University, also known as the Oxford of the East, is celebrating its 103rd founding anniversary. On this occasion, I extend my sincere greetings to all the teachers, students, parents and officials-employees of the university,” she said.
In a message on the eve of the day, she said this year’s theme of the day “Higher Education for Skill Development of Young Generation” is time befitting, reports BSS.
She mentioned that the then young student of the university’s law department Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman understood the reality that the state, which was created following 1947 partition, was not the safe place for the Bangla speaking people.
She said it was Bangabandhu who played a pioneering role to wage strong movement for making Bangla (language) as the state language and with the span of time he emerged as the Father of the Nation, “Bangabandhu,” Chief Architect of the Nation and the greatest Bengali of all times.
Highlighting the role of the university in different democratic movements, she categorically said that the people of Bangladesh will ever remember the contribution of the institution for creating an independent state like Bangladesh alongside conducting intensive research on science and knowledge and achieving socio-economic development of the country.
Staying at the forefront, the students-teachers-employees of this university played a leadership role in many historic events like the Language Movement of 1952, the Six-Point Movement of 1966 announced by the Father of the Nation and the Great War of Liberation in 1971, she added.
The university always played a vital role in waging all democratic movements, flourishing non-communal cultural activities and fulfilling hopes and aspirations of the people of the country, she added.
The prime minister said whenever the Awami League (AL) has formed the government, it has given the highest priority to the development of the country's education sector in light of the education philosophy of the father of the nation.
In this connection, she said the government is implementing various programmes for the development of education and research in Dhaka University. “As an ex-student of this university, I hope that Dhaka University will create new horizons in the journey of knowledge and light.”
“I believe that the students of Dhaka University will make an important contribution from their respective positions in building a hunger and poverty-free “Sonar Bangla” (Golden Bengal) as dreamt by the Father of the Nation by 2041 by applying their acquired knowledge, intellect and creativity with patriotism, honesty and devotion,” she said.
The premier wished all for making the programmes organized on the occasion of 'Dhaka University’s foundation anniversary a success.
DU celebrates 104th founding anniversary Monday
Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr ASM Maksud Kamal will officially inaugurate the daylong programme as the chief guest at Payra Chattar in front of the university's Teacher-Student Center (TSC) at 10 am tomorrow, read a press release issued Sunday.
Marking the day, teachers, students, officers and employees of the university, led by the VC, will gather at Smriti Chirantan Chatwar with a procession at 9.30 am tomorrow morning.
Later, they will march to Payra Chatwar in front of the TSC with a colorful procession. The inaugural ceremony will begin at 10am by hoisting of national, DU and hall flags, releasing of pigeons and balloons and cutting of cake on the premises of Payra Chattar.
After the inauguration ceremony, a discussion session will be held in the TSC Auditorium at 10.30am on the theme which will be addressed by the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury as the chief guest while the DU VC Dr ASM Maksud Kamal will preside over it.
The discussion will also be addressed, among others, by DU Pro-VC (Administration) Prof Dr Mohammad Samad, Pro-VC (Academic) Prof Dr Sitesh Chandra Bachar and Treasurer Prof Momtaj Uddin Ahmed.
Senate and syndicate members of the university, deans of various faculties, provosts of various halls, chairpersons of different departments along with teachers-students, alumni and officers-employees will participate in the discussion.
At the beginning of the meeting, the cover of the second volume of the book titled “Smaranika” and “Dhaka University, History and Heritage” will be unveiled.
The road from Nilkhet to Fuller Road area will be restricted for vehicular movement from 9:30 am to 10:30 am tomorrow and thus, all are requested to use alternative roads.
On the occasion of the celebration, no classes will be held on Monday from 8am to 1pm, but the examinations will be held as usual.
