Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the students to follow the rules and to uphold the dignity of universities.
“The students must uphold the dignity of their universities and indiscipline will never be accepted there,” she said.
The Prime Minister came up with the statement on Saturday while inaugurating the 7 March Bhaban, a newly constructed residential building for female students inside Rokeya Hall of Dhaka University, reports BSS.
Sheikh Hasina said there is an autonomy at the public universities and there are also rules that the universities will be run through their own income.
“But the students of such universities should think that the higher education is provided in Bangladesh at the lowest cost and the government is bearing 100 per cent expenditure in this regard,” she said.
“I don’t know whether such practice exists in any other country of the world, because we always inquire about the international universities,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the students will have to behave by maintaining rules of their educational institutions as the nation expects such behaviour from them.
“We want their living standard be improved on all sides and they take the country forward further,” she added.
Recalling the rich contributions of Dhaka University to all movements of the country, the Prime Minister said the country’s premier university was the focal point of all movements.
“All movements of the country had started from the university and the dignity of this university before us unique and exceptional,” said Sheikh Hasina, also a former student of the university.
The premier asked the students to keep their educational institutions neat and clean and maintain austerity in using electricity.
Sheikh Hasina recalled with profound respect the outstanding contributions of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to rebuild war-ravaged country and his epoch-making steps for development of education sector.
She said the 7th March Bhaban constructed in memory of Bangabandhu’s historic March 7 speech is a symbol of the history and heritage.
"Besides it’s an addition of new dimension to spread education," she added.
She, however, expressed her sorrow as she could not complete her study at the university as she went to Germany 15 days before the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu.
“I got enrolled to the master’s at Dhaka University but I could not complete my study as I went to Germany along with my husband 15 days before Bangabandhu’s assassination and this sorrow exists in my mind and will remain forever,” she continued.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid and University Grants Commission Chairman Prof Abdul Mannan were present at the function as special guests, while DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Aktaruzzaman was in the chair.
DU Pro-VC (admin) Prof Dr Muhammad Samad, Pro-VC (education) Prof Nasrin Ahmed, Treasurer Prof Dr Kamaluddin, Rokeya Hall Provost Professor Dr Zinat Huda also spoke.
Ministers, parliament members, national professors, academics, political leaders and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Earlier, Lipi Akter and Sraboni Islam, two students of Rokeya Hall, adorned the prime minister with “uttoriyo”.
Students of the Department of Music and Dance performed songs and dances at the function projecting the Liberation War spirit.
Earlier, the Prime Minister opened the building by unveiling of its plaque. She also visited the museum and signed the visitors’ book.
The building, constructed at a cost of Tk 880 million, will accommodate 1000 students.
It has a five-storey administrative block, service block and museum.
