President asks students to lead save environment campaign

President M Abdul Hamid on Sunday asked the students to lead the mass awareness campaign to save the environment and keep roads, surroundings and drains clean as he joined the 6th convocation of Khulna University as its chancellor.

He said that students must take extra responsibility to change habits that cause environmental pollution otherwise it won’t be possible to build a beautiful Bangladesh.

The president said Bangladeshis who go abroad ‘never throw any dirt, even spittle, on the street’ fearing police actions.

‘But the same people — whether educated or illiterate, well-dressed or not — throw polythene, chocolate cover, used water bottle and pollute the environment here,’ he regretted.

The president added, ‘We have to change this habit.’

Abdul Hamid, also the chancellor of the university, sought cooperation of the students of Khulna University and other educational institutions to take the cleanliness drive as a challenge to bring a qualitative change in people’s mind-set.

Referring to research activities in the university, the president called upon researchers and others concerned to maintain international standard, urging them to properly utilise the research result in the welfare of the country and its people.

‘Take special care so that the research must maintain its international standard and don’t keep the research output confined to the library only … Utilise it for the welfare of country and its people,’ the president stated.

Mentioning that Khulna region is enriched coastal belt with its biodiversity, traditional Sundarbans and marine resources, he suggested the Khulna University researchers to give more attention to the research on biodiversity and coastal resources.

Higher education and research are closely related to each other and knowledge acquired from a successful research can bring well for all, Abdul Hamid added.

The head of the state also advised the teachers not to be deviated from the ideals and work to develop the quality of education by attaining necessary expertise, experience and wisdom.

Welcoming the new graduates, the president said, ‘Being the valuable human resource, you will engage your wisdom, talent and creativity in the greater welfare of the nation in days to come.’

He also urged graduate and their family members to contribute from their respective positions to celebrating the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020 and the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh Independence in 2021.

A total of 7,008 graduates and post-graduates were conferred degrees at the ceremony while 23 students got gold medals for their outstanding academic performance and contribution. Eight researchers were conferred with Doctor of Philosophy degree and five researchers were given Master of Philosophy degree at the convocation.

Education minister Dipu Moni, University Grants Commission chairman Kazi Shahidullah and Khulna University vice-chancellor Mohammad Fayek Uzzaman spoke while academician and social scientist Anupam Sen delivered his speech as the convocation speaker.

Khulna City Corporation mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque, lawmakers, national leaders, academicians and secretaries concerned to the president, and senior civil and military officials, among others, attended the convocation.

Earlier, the president inaugurated the mural named after Sheikh Mujib on the campus ahead of ‘Mujib Year’.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net