Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Tuesday said engineering education must achieve global accreditation standards while ensuring social and environmental responsibility.
She made the remarks at the 4th International Symposium on “Quality Assurance in Engineering Education through Accreditation,” held at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka.
Rizwana said genuine quality in engineering must incorporate environmental justice, social equity and climate resilience, particularly in a city like Dhaka where earthquake risks, river erosion and flooding expose communities to severe vulnerability.
She said engineering solutions aimed at protecting lives and property must also account for long-term environmental impacts, community needs and sustainability.
The adviser said engineers make decisions that shape a nation’s development, and accreditation frameworks must therefore embed ethical responsibility, environmental consciousness and problem-solving approaches that look beyond traditional planning and infrastructure.
With the rising number of engineering graduates and private universities, she stressed the need for education programmes to align with international benchmarks.
She said the symposium should lead to tangible outcomes, including improved curriculum standards, enhanced practical training and strengthened institutional capacity so that engineers can contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.
Speaking as special guest, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, said the symposium has opened important opportunities to expand collaboration between academia and industry, improving employability, research capacity and skill development.
Among others, Professor Dr Nur Yazdani and Professor Tseng Huang Endowed of the University of Texas at Arlington; Professor Ir Megat Johari Megat Mohd Noor, Chair of the Dublin Accord; and Professor Dr Md Sabbir Mostafa Khan, Honorary General Secretary of the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh, attended the symposium, chaired by Professor Dr Tanvir Manzur, Chairman of BAETE.
The event ended with a call for follow-up measures to strengthen accreditation practices and modernise engineering education in line with international standards and national development needs. Awards were presented to engineers.
