Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan on Wednesday urged graduating students to pursue wealth through innovation, production, and entrepreneurship rather than “the corridors of corruption,” adding that young people must build their futures on integrity and capability to contribute meaningfully to the nation.
The adviser made the remarks at BRAC University’s 17th convocation in Dhaka, describing his return as a “homecoming.” He paid tribute to the martyrs and victims of the Liberation War, calling their sacrifices the moral foundation of Bangladesh, and thanked private universities, particularly BRAC University, for shaping the country’s intellectual landscape.
“You are graduating at a challenging time,” he told the students. “A degree is only a pass to enter the job market. Your real value will depend on what you can contribute.” He cautioned high achievers against complacency and reminded those who struggled academically that graduation is “the beginning of effort, not the end of it.”
Urging the nation’s brightest minds to enter politics and public service, Fouzul Kabir said that Bangladesh needs them not only in businesses and startups but also in policymaking and governance. Quoting the memoir of a former New Zealand prime minister, he said: “Integrity and intelligence in leadership can truly change lives.”
“The future economy will reward capability over connections,” he added, highlighting the rise of coding boot camps, micro-credentials, and global competition. He called on faculty members to inspire students toward research and innovation and reminded parents that “the older your children grow, the bigger your responsibility becomes.”
Remembering BRAC founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the adviser said the late visionary believed that “only quality information can fully transform society,” noting how his humility and clarity had affected millions of lives.
In a separate address, Professor Adam Habib, Vice-Chancellor of School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, apologised to the Class of 2025 for bestowing upon them a world marked by inequality, climate change, conflict, and pandemics. “My generation has failed to build a cohesive world,” he said. “My single prayer is that your generation succeeds.”
Sharing reflections drawn from conversations with his sons, he urged graduates to take charge of their futures, exercise agency, adapt global knowledge to local realities, and display courage in making difficult leadership decisions. Citing the multi-faith prayers at the ceremony, he said building “bridges across divides” is essential, adding that humanity’s future may depend on renewed solidarity.
The convocation was also attended by BRAC University Vice-Chancellor Prof Syed Ferhat Anwar, UGC members Prof Md Saidur Rahman and Prof M Anwar Hossen, Chairperson of the BRAC University Board of Trustees Tamara Hasan Abed, and Dr Sadia Hamid Kazi.
