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Tarique Rahman chose my research topic: Education Minister

Published : Wednesday, 23 September, 2026 at 4:11 PM

Observer online report

Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milan has said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chose the subject of his PhD research when they met in London.

He made the remarks on Wednesday (September 23) at the ‘MGI-MAA Scholarship 2026’ award ceremony for students of the Marketing Department of Dhaka University.

Recalling the incident, Milan said he had decided to conduct research while living in Malaysia. He said that when he met Tarique Rahman in London and showed him his higher studies topic, the prime minister told him that he had once thought of having Milan work in the ministry, but the topic made him reconsider.

Milan said Tarique Rahman then crossed out the word ‘Higher’ from his research topic and replaced it with ‘Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)’.

“This is his thinking and foresight. And he is now the prime minister of the country,” Milan said.

Speaking about the students’ talent and potential, the education minister said Bangladeshis were in no way inferior in talent to citizens of other countries.

“Allah has not deprived any of us of talent. We have the same talent as people in developed countries. China developed through its own efforts, and we will also develop our country in the same way,” he said.

Milan also pointed to the gap between academia and industry in Bangladesh, saying major companies and industries do not attach enough importance to strengthening the linkage between the two.

Citing China as an example, he said polytechnic institutes had been established within industries there, where engineers teach students and students gain practical experience by working in the industries.

“We need such a linkage in our country as well,” he said.

Praising the scholarship initiative under the corporate social responsibility programme of Meghna Group of Industries, Milan urged other corporate organisations to come forward in a similar manner.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof ABM Obaidul Islam said a university’s success was not limited to classrooms, research or degrees. It also depended on alumni and society standing together to help students fulfil their dreams.

He thanked Meghna Group of Industries for creating a Tk 10 crore scholarship fund for students, describing it as more than financial assistance and a source of confidence and inspiration for students.

The vice-chancellor also called on alumni and corporate organisations to establish a central or endowment fund for the university.

He said public universities could not operate solely on government funding and that financial constraints were affecting research and other areas.

He urged successful businesspeople and alumni, including Meghna Group, to contribute to a central fund for the entire university. He said the fund could support research incentives, laboratory development, and healthcare and welfare services for teachers and students.

The scholarship programme was organised jointly by Meghna Group of Industries (MGI) and the Dhaka University Marketing Alumni Association (MAA) as part of their decade-long initiative.

Milan attended the programme as the chief guest.

MGI Director Barrister Tasnim Mostafa, Dhaka University Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Dr Almojjaded Alfasani, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Dr Abdus Salam, Dhaka University Sadadal convener and Marketing Alumni Association Vice-President Morshed Hasan Khan, and Marketing Department Chairman Dr Sirajul Haque were also present.

The programme was chaired by Dr Ashraful Islam Chowdhury, president of the Dhaka University Marketing Department Alumni Association.

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