Northern University Bangladesh (NUB) completed three day long '10th Founding Anniversary Celebration' with great enthusiasm. The celebration was concluded by 'Prize Giving Ceremony and Cultural Evening' on 19 November, 2012 at Banani Bangabandhu Sainic Club Field. Dr. Muhiddin Khan Alamgir, MP, Honorable Minister, Home Affairs, The Government of The Peoples Republic of Bangladesh was the Chief Guest in the closing program. Professor Dr. Abu Yousuf Md. Abdullah, Chairman, NUB Trust and Mr. ABM Rashedul Hassan, Treasurer and Acting Registrar, NUB were special guest in the program. Professor Dr. M. Shamsul Haque, Vice-Chancellor, NUB chaired the season.
Mentioned that, on the occasion of '10th Founding Anniversary Celebration- 2012' Cake Cutting, a Gorgeous Rally by setting free Pigeon and Balloons, Photo Exhibition, Uncovering Wall Magazine, Greetings Exchange, Free Blood Donation, Film Show, View Exchange with the College Teachers, NUB Alumni Reunion were also arranged at Banani. NUB Dhanmondi Campus, City Campus (Kawranbazar) and Mirpur Road Campus (Globe Centre) also arranged the same program.
In the price giving ceremony, Dr. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs Minister enjoyed the performance of NUB students and expressed his satisfaction on the large number of students attending the function at Banani field. He congratulated the VC and the Chairman of NUB Trust rapid growth of NUB. He also wished the NUB good progress in offering quality higher education in the coming years. After the prize giving ceremony, the Minister joined the Seminar titled 'Problems of Higher Education in Bangladesh' in Banani campus, Dhaka. The seminar was attended by all Deans, Heads and teachers of NUB.
Special Guest Professor Dr. Abu Yousuf Md. Abdullah said that Northern University Bangladesh is going ahead by maintaining quality of higher education. He hoped that NUB will be among the best 5 Universities in Bangladesh in next five years. In his remarks wanted more cooperation from the GOB to help private universities attain higher standards and thank the Minister for being with the faculty and students on this occasion. He said the presence of the minister will encourage us to continue our works in NUB.
In the Seminar, the key note paper was presented by Professor Dr. M. Shamsul Haque, the Vice-Chancellor of NUB. VC, NUB, among other things, highlighted the shortage of enrollment in universities in Bangladesh. He said, only 4% students (age cohorts) go to university level education in Bangladesh whereas 14% attend in India. Private Universities are now offering education to 55% of students and public universities 45%. The number of private universities reached 70 within a short period of 18 yrs. He also said, shortage of qualified teachers, poor quality of incoming students and lack of Govt. support are the main challenges in the development in higher education in Bangladesh. He urged upon the Government of Bangladesh to start a crash program of doctoral studies with help from donors. Dr. M. Alam traced growth of enrollment and teacher-students ratios in Public and Private Universities. He also mentioned the very low budget of Government of Bangladesh for higher education. Public Private Partnership (PPP) can be a good model for expansion of the university education sector in Bangladesh.
Minister concluded the session by recalling the contribution of the last Awami League government 1996-2001. He mentioned the project to establish one university in each old district in BD and also undertook a Tk.250 crore Banga Bandhu scholarship project for training university teachers abroad. He regretted that both the projects were stopped by the last BNP government. He narrated what the current government has been doing to expand primary and secondary education, including nationalization of 23,000 private primary schools and also payment of 100 percent salaries of teachers in private schools and colleges. For the higher education he cited examples of USA where private universities are run by philanthropic contribution by rich people and mentioned that successful business men would come forward to help expansion of university education, just like Dr. Abdullah came forward to develop NUB. He wished the teachers present to undertake research side by side of teaching as without research and publication one cannot be successful teacher. He said the famous addicts in this connection in the USA. e., 'publish or perish'. The observations from the minister showed his very strong intellectual bend as he was one a lecturer in the Dept of Economics at DU.
