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Our varsities should catch up with their global peers

Published : Thursday, 18 April, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 429
Md Golam Sharower
“Nowadays different categories of universities have been established in the country. Along with General University, Engineering University, Science and Technology University, Agricultural University, Medical University, Civil Aviation University, Maritime University, Rabindra University, Nazrul University have been established”

In the words of Bangabandhu, "We want golden people for a golden country." Golden people will be competent and mature in all aspects. Like gold and the best people were protecting the motherland and mother tongue with their best sacrifice. Today, the world has turned into a Global village at the highest level of science and technology. Our beloved motherland is a part of the Global village. To keep up with everyone, we have to move at the same pace.

The late President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam said in a convocation speech of a private university in Bangladesh that the level of elite and progress of a country is considered on the basis of the number of quality research papers are published every year from the higher education institutions and research organizations. In the survey conducted by various institutions of the world, it can be seen that there is no university in Bangladesh among 1000 universities in terms of world ranking. A major criterion for this ranking is research and publication of quality research papers. The concept of modern research of university and higher education was introduced in our country during the British rule. Calcutta University was first established in this subcontinent on 24th January 1857.

After 64 years in 1921, the first university, Dhaka University, was established in our country. This university was founded by the British ruler. The total period of 23 years of Pakistanees rule, 5 universities were established;i.e; Rajshahi University (1953), Bangladesh Agricultural University and Bangladesh Universityof Engineering and Technology (1961), Chittagong University (1966) and Jahangir Nagar University (1970). After the independence of Bangladesh, the total number of public universities till 2024 is 58. That is, 52 public and 113 private universities have been established in 54 years of independence, excluding 1 during the British period and 5 during the Pakistani period. Now considering the quality of these universities, British, Pakistani and Bangladeshi times are very worthy.

We all know whether the quality of the university is increasing or decreasing these days. Even though the number of universities has increased from arithmetic to geometric rate over time, everyone knows that the qualitative meaning has changed. The main purpose of establishing a university is to conduct research and research findings for the welfare of the people of the country. Only the talented students of the country are admitted to the universities and through the practice of their independent intellectuality, they will provide guidance in all directions for the development of the society and the human beings.

Nowadays different categories of universities have been established in the country. Along with General University, Engineering University, Science and Technology University, Agricultural University, Medical University, Civil Aviation University, Maritime University, Rabindra University, Nazrul University have been established. However, Public Health University has not been established yet. The issue is mentioned in the election manifesto of the current government. Hope it will be implemented soon. If the university cannot ensure qualitative growth along with numerical growth, it is bound to bow our head in the world as a nation.

When (MIT) or Cambridge University will say how many Nobels our university has won for research. India, our neighboring country, is equally proud when theyclaim that our research has played a role in the progress of the world. At that very moment what should say in such an incident of Jagannath University and others. As a result of extensive research of Bangladesh Agricultural University, we have been able to place many needles in the world. The United Nations has conferred the title of Ceres on our Honorable Prime Minister. We have also achieved self-sufficiency in food. We are at the top of the world list in the production of fish, meat, eggs and milk.

If the place of knowledge and talent practice in universities is transformed into evil activities, then it will be very unfortunate as a nation. I had the good fortune to study at Bangladesh Agricultural University, the largest institution of agricultural science in South Asia. I remember when I was a 2nd year university student, a professor from Hokkaido University from Japan came to our university as a visiting professor. In his lecture he said that the professor originated from the Prophet. The words stuck into my mind. I understood that a professor can never tell a lie. He can never do anything like that. Harassment is a far cry. Every gesture of a professor can be imitated by a follower. A bearer of divine words can never think of any dishonesty of his followers. They are only thought and adored and wish the followers all-round well-being. His followers will be attracted by his good character. In the same way, a professor is the maker of his/her students behavior, manners, modesty, politeness, courage, reality, humanity, honesty, fairness, morality and humanity etc. He will turn into an idol or icon of the students with his behavior and activities.

If the university is the source of the right direction and its implementation, then the right pillar of guide is the teacher. As the professors will teach the philosophy of life, the reality of the philosophy, how easy or difficult, will be found in his every action. Just as his research will accelerate society, the destiny of man, every word he utters and every action he does will reveal to each of his fellows. There is no place for any unexpected dirty thoughts in his thinking. A great man will initiate his followers in the writings of thought and philosophy of life, will show the way to correctness. That philosophy of life will reflect in the life of a student. The student will hold himself at that height. It should be remembered that the creator never assigns the responsibility by giving blessings to everyone. A person of very selected and fully ideal character is chosen as the bearer of the message. As a university teacher if we think like this. It is an important responsibility. It is not only the organization that will suffer if this responsibility is lost. Humanity, human dignity will suffer. A vital contribution to a progressive Global Village will be lost.

Humanity will be stunned. If specific research can be strengthened in sector wise universities, then we can also proudly say that we have won so many Nobel Prizes for such and such contribution in such and such fields. The world will benefit from our activities. Humanity will develop. We will become bright people and Bangladesh will be happy and progressive Bangla.

The writer is a Professor and Head, Department of Entomology, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, NIPSOM



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