National University (NU) Vice-Chancellor Professor ASM Amanullah has announced the decision to establish one performing arts college in each of the 64 districts across the country.
This initiative will be implemented under the university’s “Learning with Happiness” programme.
The vice-chancellor made the announcement while addressing a teachers’ gathering at Dinajpur Sangeet College on Thursday.
Culture and education for a new country
Amanullah emphasised that a nation’s development depends not only on economic progress but also on the foundation of a healthy culture, humanitarian values, moral education, and a knowledge-based society.
He mentioned that the integration of healthy cultural practices and quality education is essential for building a merit-based, non-communal, and discrimination-free “New Bangladesh”.
The vice-chancellor noted that culture plays a vital role in developing a student’s intellect, personality, and leadership qualities. To ensure students remain competitive in the modern world, the National University is implementing various reforms to produce graduates rich in skills, creativity, and ethical values.
Overcoming challenges
Reflecting on recent institutional hurdles, Amanullah remarked that the university has managed to stand tall again by overcoming challenges such as “mob culture,” internal party conflicts, and the harassment of teachers. He stressed that the university has successfully returned teachers and students to their classrooms.
Highlighting the need for systemic change, the VC described the education system they inherited as “shattered,” noting that 54 years after independence, only 2% of the national budget is allocated to the education sector.
He argued that the traditional style of education at National University is insufficient for the country’s desired development and called for increased investment in skill-based education to ensure sustainable human resource development.
Boosting remittance through language proficiency
The vice-chancellor pointed out that approximately 10 lakh (one million) Bangladeshis migrate abroad for work annually, with 3.5 to 4 lakh going to the Middle East. He suggested that if these workers were trained in Arabic before departure, remittance from Gulf states, currently between $10 billion and $12 billion, could potentially double to $24–25 billion.
He stressed the importance of training youth in languages such as Japanese, South Korean, and Mandarin to secure better employment opportunities in those respective countries.
Environmental and institutional engagement
Following the discussion, the vice-chancellor participated in a tree-planting programme on the college campus as part of the university’s “Green Campus” and “One Student, One Tree” initiatives. He planted both a timber and a fruit-bearing sapling to promote environmental balance.
The event was presided over by Professor Nausher Wan, a teacher at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) and chairman of Dinajpur Sangeet Degree College (governing body). Dinajpur-3 (Sadar) lawmaker Syed Jahangir Alam attended as the chief guest.
Special guests included Advocate Md Mofazzal Hossain Dulal, administrator of Dinajpur District Council, and Bakhtiar Ahmed Kochi, general secretary of Dinajpur District BNP.
Other officials present were Md Aminul Akter, director of NU Regional Coordination Office; Md Mizanur Rahman, chief engineer; Md Nazrul Islam, additional registrar of VC’s Office; and College Principal Md Hasan Mahmud.
The gathering concluded with a cultural performance by the students of the college and local artists. Earlier, students of the Music Department welcomed the guests with floral bouquets and uttariyas, followed by the presentation of honorary crests.
