Urging university alumni to join hands with government support, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said Bangladesh cannot survive in a competitive world without research and innovation.
He said, “The reality is our universities have not achieved the desired heights in world rankings. These rankings emphasise research, innovation, publications and citations. Without focus on research and innovation, survival in a competitive world will be difficult.”
The prime minister questioned whether the country’s education has reached global standards.
He was speaking at Dhaka University during the national workshop “Transforming Higher Education in Bangladesh: Roadmap to Sustainable Excellence” organised by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
“Students are the lifeblood of institutions, while alumni are the backbone. Government support for research and innovation is natural, but in many countries, alumni also sponsor these areas. We will call on our alumni to be involved here as well,” he added.
He noted that hundreds of thousands of graduates leave universities each year, many remaining unemployed due to lack of skills beyond academic learning.
The need to redesign curricula from primary to higher levels to make them time‑appropriate, with plans to introduce technical and practical education from the early stages, he stressed.
“Our resources are not limitless, but effective use can create new opportunities. By preventing brain drain and nurturing talent, we want to face future challenges together,” the premier said.
