Skilled manpower a must to deal with new global challenges: PM

"We need skilled human resources to take control of all branches of science and technology ... and devote themselves to the improvement and application of scientific technologies to raise productivity," she said while addressing the second convocation of Bangladesh Institute of Technology (BIT) in Chittagong.

A total of 783 graduates and five post-graduates from BIT's civil, mechanical and electrical departments were awarded certificates.

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Khaleda Zia handed over gold medals to five brilliant students for their outstanding academic feat in five sessions from 1993-94 to 1998-99.

Education Minister Dr Osman Farouk also addressed the convocation ceremony while chairman of the BIT Board of Governors Dr Jamilur Reza Chowdhury presided.

Congratulating the newly graduated engineers, the prime minister said, "We want to see you as engineers of the new millennium. You must be forward looking and have clear vision and new ideas."

She also called on industrial and business entrepreneurs to employ and utilise the expertise of the new graduates.

Admittedly, she said, a lot of graduates look for jobs in the public sector because government is the biggest employer as opposed to developed countries where most jobs are provided by the private sector.

The prime minister told the new graduates not to depend on employment alone but also become entrepreneurs taking advantage of the external loans that the government receives in different sectors including the promising ICT (information and communication technology) sector.