The Faculty of Social Sciences of Dhaka University (DU) has conferred its Dean’s Awards for the academic years 2021, 2022 and 2023 at a ceremony held at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building today.
A total of 48 students from 16 departments under the faculty received the Dean’s Awards. Two teachers were also honored for their outstanding books and research articles.
The ceremony was chaired by Professor Kazi Mahbubur Rahman, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Professor Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Adviser to the Prime Minister on the Ministries of Finance and Planning, attended the event as the chief guest.
Department chairs announced the names of the award-winning students, while National Professor Dr Mahbub Ullah announced the names of the teachers receiving the awards.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ABM Obaidul Islam, pro-vice-chancellors, University Grants Commission member Prof Dr Abdullah-Al-Mamun, deans of different faculties, teachers of the Faculty of Social Sciences, department chairs, institute directors, provosts and guardians were also present at the program.
In his speech, chief guest Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said DU students should not merely follow conventional knowledge but should learn to question, assess issues through reasoning and create new knowledge.
“The fundamental responsibility of a public university is to develop a sense of citizenship, skills and innovative capacity,” he said.
He stressed that DU should be developed not merely as a teaching university but as an institution dedicated to creating knowledge.
Congratulating the Dean’s Award recipients, VC Obaidul Islam said the awards were recognition of their merit and achievements.
He, however, said the recognition also brought greater responsibility.
“To maintain this success, they will have to engage more deeply in research and study and work harder,” he said.
The vice-chancellor said DU teachers and researchers were carrying out important work despite limited opportunities and funding.
He added that the university had undertaken various initiatives to further advance research and would introduce incentive schemes in the future to encourage researchers.