Says Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury in memorial lecture at DU
News Desk : dhakamirror.com
Emphasising the need for lessons in the mother tongue, Emeritus Professor Serajul Islam Chowdhury said Dhaka University should play a pioneering role to spread Bangla as a medium of education at all levels.
He made the remarks while delivering Professor Ahmed Kabir First Memorial Lecture-2022, centred around the topic “Centennial of Dhaka University: An Assessment Based on Two Factors”.
Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq presided over the programme, organised by Samaj-Rupantar Oddhayan Kendra at the university’s Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium.
Ahmed Kabir, a retired professor of Bangla at DU, passed away on June 3, 2021.
Mentioning that the nationalist movement took place to establish Bangla as a state language as well as make it the medium of education at all levels, he said, “None of these goals have been achieved. The issue of education in the mother tongue is not only about self-esteem but also about ensuring proper education.”
Though it is the responsibility of the state, Dhaka University must make the state aware of this responsibility, he said.”It is also necessary to pay attention to translation. Through translation, we will be able to grasp global knowledge. A collective effort is needed in this regard by the university,” he added.
Prof Serajul also pointed out the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution.
“Artificial intelligence is at the core of the fourth industrial revolution. Now the question is: who will be at the helm of artificial intelligence? Will artificial intelligence dominate humanity?” he asked.
He suggested that the university should not place any less importance on literature, philosophy and history, even in the time of the fourth industrial revolution.
Underscoring the need for promoting culture, he said, “We must not forget that the educational and cultural environment in Dhaka is not satisfying. This is true for all universities as well.”
He said to promote good culture, it is necessary to hold Ducsu elections annually. It is also crucial to turn the convocation programmes into an occasion for festivities.
“Due to its rich history and legacy, it is by default Dhaka University’s duty to take the lead in promoting culture,” he added.
Professor Upama Kabir, also Ahmed Kabir’s daughter, highlighted the biography of his father in brief. Born in 1944 in Chattogram, Ahmed Kabir carried out important roles at Centre for Advanced Research Institute.
A prolific writer, Ahmed Kabir always emphasised the need for research and put it as the first and foremost responsibility of Dhaka University, to become an epicentre of higher education.
“Knowledge is created through research. Therefore, more research is needed. And it should be unique and purposeful,” said Prof Serajul Islam.
