Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof ABM Obaidul Islam met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat on Thursday, according to a press release issued by the university’s Public Relations Office.
DU Sada Dol Convener, Syndicate Member and Professor of the Department of Marketing Dr Md Morshed Hasan Khan was also present during the meeting.
During the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor briefed the Prime Minister on the overall security situation on the campus, progress of the university’s major development project and other development initiatives, and the proposed 20-year Academic Development Plan of Dhaka University.
He also apprised the Prime Minister of the university’s education and research activities, initiatives to strengthen industry-academia collaboration, joint academic and research programmes with renowned universities around the world, efforts to expand the alumni network, and various recent initiatives undertaken for student welfare.
The Vice-Chancellor sought the Prime Minister’s cooperation in securing special status for Dhaka University in recognition of its historic contributions to the Language Movement, the Liberation War, the 2024 anti-discrimination student movement and various democratic movements.
He also sought the Prime Minister’s support for increasing the university’s research funding, strengthening industry-academia collaboration and alumni networking, and advancing education and research in artificial intelligence, third-language studies, biology, biotechnology and robotics. He further sought assistance in creating internship opportunities for students in various industries.
The Vice-Chancellor said co-curricular activities in residential halls, departments and institutes should be strengthened to foster creativity, ethics, tolerance and humanitarian values among students. He also sought the Prime Minister’s cooperation in this regard.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman assured the university of his overall support for implementing major development projects, granting special status to Dhaka University, and advancing its education and research activities.
He said all stakeholders must work together to elevate Dhaka University to a respectable position in international rankings. The university should also move forward with the support of its alumni, he added.
The Vice-Chancellor invited the Prime Minister to attend the university’s potential convocation scheduled for January next year. The Prime Minister accepted the invitation and agreed to attend the convocation.
The Vice-Chancellor thanked the Prime Minister for his affection for Dhaka University and for his sincere cooperation in the university’s education, research and development activities, as well as other areas.