Bangladesh's President Abdul Hamid, who is also chancellor of universities, has directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to take necessary measures for holding a single admission test for all public universities for the 2023-24 session. A media release signed by Md Mahmudul Alam, joint secretary of secondary and higher education department of the Education Ministry, conveyed the directive today. Read more: Single admission test for universities from next year: Dipu Moni The release also said the public universities that earlier held admission test in the cluster method for 2022-23 session were asked to complete the admission process.

President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday called for  ending the partisan politics and adopting a transparent recruitment process in the universities.  The president said this while exchanging views with the vice-chancellors of three universities. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University Vice-Chancellor Mohammad Musa, Feni University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jamal Uddin Ahmed and Rangamati Science and Technology University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Selina Akhtar met the President on Wednesday.  Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellors informed the President about their respective universities and sought the President's direction and cooperation in all matters. The real students should get seats in the dormitories of the universities, and President Hamid asked the Vice-Chancellors to play an effective role in this regard. The President listened to them patiently and assured cooperation. Read more: Design modern curricula for every university: President Hamid The President requested the Vice-Chancellors to conduct employment-oriented and life-oriented education curriculum in the universities. He also emphasised on increasing research activities in universities. The Vice-Chancellors listened attentively to the President's instructions and thanked him. On this occasion, President's Office Secretary Sanpad Barua, President's Military Secretary Major General SM Salahuddin Islam were also present.  

President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday expressed deep shock over the casualties in an explosion in the capital's Gulistan area. In a condolence message, the president prayed for the salvation of the departed souls and conveyed his deepest sympathies to the bereaved families. The president also wished speedy recovery of the injured. A massive blast in a building in the capital’s Gulistan area left 15 people dead and over 60 injured on Tuesday.

President Abdul Hamid on Thursday called on lawyers to fulfill their professional duties above politics. The President made this call while exchanging greetings with members of the District Bar Association at Kishoreganj. He said that lawyers should take care of the issues that common people do not suffer from the behaviour of lawyers when they come to seek legal services. The President also said that there may be political differences among themselves, but lawyers must fulfill their professional duties above politics while performing their duties. He hoped that everyone will work together regardless of party affiliation to brighten the image of Kishoreganj District Lawyers Association. Earlier, President Hamid visited the Bangabandhu Corner established at the newly constructed Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Kishoreganj. The President planted a sapling on the court premises. Later, he exchanged views with the judges. Read more: Don’t abuse power while discharging duties, President Hamid asks DCs Senior District and Sessions Judge Saidur Rahman Khan informed the President about the overall activities of the Judiciary Department of Kishoreganj. The President urged the judges to perform their duty more sincerely to ensure that people get speedy justice.

President-elect Mohammed Shahabuddin Chuppu and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday met the incumbent President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban. Prime Minister's sister Sheikh Rehana, wife of president-elect Dr Rebecca Sultana accompanied them, Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB. On their arrival, President Abdul Hamid and his wife Rashida Khanom welcomed them with flower bouquets. President Hamid congratulated Shahabuddin for being elected President of Bangladesh and exchanged greetings on the phone. They also enquired of their health condition. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also briefed the President about the activities of ther government during the meeting. Read more: President Hamid greets his successor President-elect Md Shahabuddin Shahabuddin Chuppu will be the 22nd President of Bangladesh. Yesterday, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal declared the ruling party’s nominee the president-elect of Bangladesh. As per the election schedule two nomination papers were submitted for Shahabuddin on Sunday and one of those was accepted as valid after scrutiny on Monday. A gazette was issued in the afternoon in this regard. The ruling party's nominee was declared the next president of the country as no other political party with representation in parliament proposed any name for the presidential election. President Hamid is set to complete his tenure on April 23 this year. Read more: Md Shahabuddin set to become next President of Bangladesh According to the constitution, a new president has to be elected within 90 to 60 days prior to the end of the incumbent president's tenure.

President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday sought the cooperation of Belgium for a safe, peaceful and dignified repatriation of the displaced Rohingya people to their homeland in Myanmar. The president sought the support during the meeting with the visiting Belgium Queen Mathilde at Bangabhaban in the evening. President's press secretary Md Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meeting. Welcoming the queen, he said Bangladesh deeply values its relations with Belgium, Recalling with gratitude that Belgium was one of the first European countries to recognize Bangladesh in February 1972, he said since then, Belgium has been a steady supporter and partner in "our socio-economic developmental journey." Belgium has been providing continuous assistance to Bangladesh and this assistance is increasing day by day, the Hamid said. He referred the completion of 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Belgium in 2022 as a landmark occasion. "It gave us the opportunity to explore avenues to further widen and deepen our cooperation for the benefit of our two peoples," he said. Raising the Rohingya issue he told the queen that for the last five years, Bangladesh has been sheltering more than 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (Rohingyas) who fled Myanmar due to persecution by the Myanmar military and security forces. Read more: Belgian Queen Mathilde to visit Rohingyas camps in Cox’s Bazar Tuesday "Not a single Rohingyas could go back to their country yet as the Myanmar government has done nothing to create the appropriate conditions for their return," the president said, calling the Rohingyas a big burden for Bangladesh. He called upon Belgium and international development agencies to take appropriate steps so that the Rohingyas can return to their country in a dignified manner. During the meeting, Queen Mathilde praised the socio-economic development of Bangladesh. She said Bangladesh has undoubtedly shown humanity by sheltering the forcibly displaced Rohingyas. Information and Broadcasting Minisater Hasan Mahmud, Belgian ambassador to Bangladesh Didier Vanderhasselt, secretaries concerned to the Bangabhaban and the ministry of foreign affairs were present.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday paid a courtesy call to President Abdul Hamid at his office at the Jatiya Sangsad. "During the meeting, they discussed different state-level issues, especially the steps undertaken by the government for the socio-economic development of the country," President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB. Read more: PMO's Principal Secretary meets President Abdul Hamid Also, President Hamid thanked PM Hasina for unveiling his autobiographical book "Amar Jibanniti, Amar Rajniti" at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2023, he added.

President Abdul Hamid has asked the university authorities not to turn the higher education institutions under them into commercial centres. "We do not want universities to be commercialised in the name of education, considering education as a commodity," he said. The president was addressing the first convocation of the Canadian University of Bangladesh (CUB), held at the Osmani Memorial auditorium on Tuesday afternoon. President Hamid, also the chancellor of CUB, added, "A university cannot be run as per anyone's will." He called upon the entrepreneurs in the education sector to change their mentality of doing business with education. "Changing the mindset from commercialising education is good for all. Run the university in accordance with the laws and regulations," he advised.  Noting that there are currently over 150 universities in Bangladesh, he said, "If we see the newspaper, we notice that some universities are distributing certificates in the name of degrees and many universities have opened factories manufacturing graduates." He said it is very urgent to ensure the quality, transparency and accountability of educational institutions with the aim of developing the nation, building a better society and producing world-class graduates.  Read more: Respect gradually shrinking due to activities of some VCs, teachers: President at DU Convocation "Higher education is worthless without quality. So, it must be ensured that higher education is not only the highest certificate," he added. Expressing grave concern, Hamid said that the number of highly educated unemployed persons in the country is increasing day by day. If jobs cannot be linked with education, the university may have to shut due to lack of students in the days to come.   Hamid urged the university authorities to take steps to ensure the atmosphere of education as well as to build their own campus and infrastructures. "You will develop as good citizens by nurturing the history and heritage of the country and enriching yourself with knowledge and the practice of science," he hoped. Turning to the teachers, President Hamid said, "You are the great builders of a developed nation. You must have a strong moral character and be impartial, fearless and truthful." He requested everyone to work unitedly to educate and develop the young generation of the country with modern education. The Chancellor said students should not be limited to studying textbooks - they should also acquire knowledge from external sources along with the academic activities. President Hamid said there is no alternative to spreading technology-based education to make Bangladesh a developed country by 2041 as announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.  Read more: President to join Independent University convocation The president also directed the authorities concerned to prepare an up-to-date curriculum keeping in mind the issues like nano-technology and artificial intelligence to face the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIR) Nobel Laureate and famed rights activist Kailas Satyarthi of India was the keynote speaker at the convocation.  Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F. Rahman, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, MP, Chairman of Board of Trustees of CUB Chowdhury Nafeez Sharafat, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr HM Zahirul Haque, Senior Advisor of the University Professor Dr Sheikh Mamun Khaled, Advisor Professor Dr. Ridwanul Haque and Professor Syed Akhtar Hossain spoke.

The presidential house Bangabhaban is now open for visitors on a limited scale. President Abdul Hamid said after inaugurating the renovated Air Raid Shelter and Bangabhaban Toshakhana Museum on Tuesday afternoon. "People usually can't enter Bangabhaban. Nobody knows what's inside, it's in the darkness," he said. "People will also know the history and tradition of Bangabhaban.” Terming the Bangabhaban Toshakhana Museum as one of the monuments of centuries of colorful history and tradition of the Bengalis, the President said, "I believe, the Bangabhaban Toshakhana Museum will play an important role in preserving the rich history of Bangabhaban and presenting it to the future generations." Hamid said the foreign envoys or ambassadors and visitors would be able to get acquainted with the country's history, heritage and culture during their visit. The people will also be attracted by visiting many installations of Bangabhaban, and subsequently their attitude towards Bangladesh would be very positive, the President added. Bangabhaban was once called 'Manuk House'. After that, it was regarded as Governor House. A unique combination of Victorian architecture with Islamic and Bengali architecture, this building is now the office and residence of the President of the Republic. Various schemes are being implemented including modernisation of Toshakhana and Air Raid Shelter House and construction of a walkway with the aim of opening the Bangabhaban to local and foreign visitors in a limited scale. In the afternoon, President Hamid inaugurated the newly constructed Toshakhana Museum and visited the installations at different rooms there. Under the overall supervision of Bangabhaban, this dilapidated Toshakhana was elevated into a museum with a modern look. The Toshakhana houses are decorated with the gifts from different heads of states and governments of different countries across the world. Apart from the opening for domestic and foreign visitors on a limited basis, the initiatives have been taken so that anyone can visit the Toshakhana online from any part of the world and learn about Bangabhaban. Earlier, President Hamid planted a sibling there after inaugurating the renovated Air Raid Shelter House. Due to lack of use, this abandoned shelter built in 1965 was taken as a historical monument for the visitors coming to Bangabhaban. The Air Raid Shelter House has been renovated in its original shape. Besides the modern landscaped, Bangabhaban has beautiful green gardens, Dumba Shed, Deer Park, four nicely arranged ponds and a swimming pool. President's wife Rashida Khanam, State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Rezwan Ahammad Taufiq MP and secretaries concerned and high civil and military officers accompanied the President at the event.

President Abdul Hamid on Thursday called upon the people of the country to work more unitedly to eliminate corruption, terrorism, drugs and militancy. The President came up with the call in his speech in the 21st session of the current Parliament that began on Thursday. He said Bangladesh achieved independence through a bloody war under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In this independent sovereign country, the people are the source of all power and the center of all their hopes is great National Parliament. "You are the people's representatives, so public interest should be placed above everything else. It is our sacred duty to gift a safe, happy, beautiful and prosperous Bangladesh to the new generation," he said. Read more: PMO's Principal Secretary meets President Abdul Hamid The President said that the spirit of the Liberation War and the ideals of the Father of the Nation should be adopted to speed up the development of the country. He termed Padma Bridge as a symbol of Bangladesh's ability and pride as it was built with its own funding and inaugurated on June 25, 2022. "More than 3 crore people of the country will benefit directly from it. The construction of the southern tube of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman multi-lane tunnel under the Karnaphuli river has been completed,” he said. He also said he is hopeful that soon the tunnel will be opened for public use. President Hamid also congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for launch of the first metro train from Uttara to Agargaon. Referring the year 2022 as the year of challenges, President Hamid said that the nation and the entire world is going through a difficult time. Read more: President Hamid urges public representatives to work for the people "We were able to successfully deal with the Corona pandemic and maintain economic progress but the war between Russia and Ukraine has slowed down our progress," he said. Hamid said amid the global economic crisis currently the amount of food grain stock in the country is 16.14 lakh metric tons, which is satisfactory. The President said that pension will be introduced for all citizens above the age of 60 from the fiscal year 2022-23.