Public Universities
Cut dependence on govt: Prime minister
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the public university authorities to become self-reliant in running the institutions rather than fully depending on government allocations.
She told a function marking the distribution of "Prime Minister Gold Medal Award 2010" held at her office. The University Grants Commission (UGC) organised the function.
Hasina said the well-off section of society and the members of alumni associations of different public universities could play an active role in the development of the universities through donating funds. “If that happens, the public universities won't have to depend on the government and they'll be able to enjoy their autonomy,” she said.
She said the government will also take steps so that the donation to be given to the universities can enjoy income tax exemption.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid also spoke at the event presided over by UGC Chairman Prof Dr AK Azad Chowdhury.
The prime minister said her government has decided in principle to constitute a higher education commission to ensure accountability of the universities as well as turning those into high standard ones.
She said steps have been taken to form an independent accreditation council to assess the standard of education of the private universities.
Hasina said her government has established seven public universities and draft laws to establish five more public universities have been prepared. These are Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Islami Arbi Affiliating University, Digital University Bangladesh, Khulna Agriculture University and Barisal Marine University.
The gold medals were given to 82 university students for their brilliant performances in honours examinations.
Of the 82 students, 10 are from Dhaka University, eight from Rajshahi University, six from Bangladesh Agricultural University, five from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), five from Chittagong University and four from Jahangirnagar University.
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