Four BITs to be upgraded to universities

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia awards gold medals to graduates at the second convocation of the Bangladesh Institute of Technology (BIT), Khulna yesterday. Photo: PID

"I would expect the private entrepreneurs to provide employment to the meritorious youths in exchange of our encouragement to and expansion of the private sector," Khaleda said this while she was addressing the 2nd convocation of Bangladesh Institute of Technology (BIT), Khulna.

She said after taking office her government had decided to upgrade the four BITs to full-fledged universities. Khulna BIT would soon be able to function as full-fledged university, she added.

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Presided over by Chairman of the Board of Governors of Khulna BIT Prof Nurul Islam, the function was also addressed by Education Minister Dr Osman Farruk and Director of Khulna BIT Prof Nowsher Ali Morol.

Vice-chancellor of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology Prof Mosharraf Hossain Khan gave the convocation speech.

Extending her greetings to the students who successfully completed their studies from the BIT, Khaleda Zia advised them not to depend on government jobs, rather take initiative for self-employment to "establish yourselves" as engineers, entrepreneurs and innovators.

She said "Shaheed Ziaur Rahman ICT Scholarship" has been introduced at all levels of higher education from secondary level for poor meritorious students while "Prime Minister's Scholarship" at the university level for poor meritorious female students.

Khaleda urged the students and all concerned to ensure congenial and peaceful environment on the campuses.

A total of 14,063 graduates of six sessions from 1992-93 to 2000-2001, 11 postgraduates of Civil, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical and Telecommunication Engineering Departments from 1994-95 batch have been conferred degrees at the 2nd convocation of the Khulna BIT.

Twenty-nine graduates, who secured first class first in various sessions, received the Prime Minister's Gold Medal.

The Prime Minister, during her daylong trip to Khulna, paid a visit to Khan Jahan Ali's Mazar and offered fateha there.

Khaleda Zia also unveiled the plaque of a bridge over river Bhairab at Daratana.