President for forging unity against profiteers, dishonest traders

President M Abdul Hamid today urged the countrymen to forge unity against the dishonest traders, profiteers, plunderers and hoarders who create fake crisis of essentials.

"Transport owners and workers have unity amongst them. The dishonest traders, profiteers, hoarders and plunderers are united too, but we (people) have not such unity . . . Now we have to forge unity against all misdeeds," he said, addressing the 13th convocation of the BRAC University at Bangladesh Army Stadium here this afternoon.

Referring to a recent spate of price spiral of essentials including onion, salts and rice, he condemned the situation that caused sufferings to the common people.

The head of the state also called upon the countrymen to remain alert against the rumour over the stocks of essentials, including onions, salts and rice. "Media people have to do campaign properly against it," he said.

Expressing grave concern over the price hike of essentials during the holy month of Ramadan, he said, "People of the different countries reduce the prices of necessary commodities ahead of their respective religious festivals and even the people of Middle East also do that during Ramadan . . . But in Bangladesh, we see a different scenario as the prices of cucumber, brinjal and other essentials go up then."

People must forge unity against these misdeeds, the head of the state said.

Speaking on the convocation, President Hamid asked all concerned to ensure that the higher studies never be for earning certificates only, because education without quality learning is worthless.

"Education without quality learning is valueless . . . It has become one of the big challenges for Bangladesh to ensure quality education," he said.

Abdul Hamid, also the chancellor of the university, said ensuring quality learning, transparency and accountability in educational institutions is imperative for national progress, building a developed society and producing world-standard graduates.

"Students shouldn't be confined to the study of textbook curriculum only . . . To build an ideal nation, it is very urgent to impart moral education and simultaneously to know the history of Bangladesh," he suggested.

Referring to the tremendous development carried out the incumbent government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in different sectors, including education, President Hamid said the government is firm to ensure improved education system keeping in mind the fourth industrial revolution.

He asked the graduates to make combined efforts to build Bangladesh a developed country by 2041. Congratulating the graduates, the President said, "Being graduates, you are proceeding towards working life … There is no ending of acquiring education, knowledge and experience."

He advised the graduates to utilize their wisdom for the betterment of the country.

The nation has enormous expectation from you and you have to engage your merit and works to establish Bangladesh as a role model globally, the President mentioned.

A total of 3,250 students were conferred graduation degree in different subjects. Of them, four were given a gold medal award for their academic excellence.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was present as the Convocation Speaker on the occasion.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, MP, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, MP, Chairperson of BRAC University's Board of Trustees Thamara Hasan Abed, Vice-Chancellor of BRAC University Professor Vincent Chang and student of Computer Science and Engineering department Oritra Roy Arch, among others, spoke on the occasion.