Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon has said a separate pay scale for teachers will be announced.
“Today’s students are the Bangladesh of tomorrow. Therefore, we must transform them into skilled human resources,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while addressing the inaugural ceremony of ‘University Day-2026’, marking the 23rd anniversary of the conversion of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) into a university.
Milon said the then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia transformed four educational institutions into universities in 2003, including the institution that is now KUET.
“We must come forward to serve the country by utilising the knowledge and skills gained from this institution,” he said.
The minister said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had expressed interest in rewarding 116,000 students who achieved GPA-5 to encourage their academic excellence. He added that initiatives were also under way to provide pink bicycles to female students to support their higher education.
Milon said teacher recruitment had been delayed, but 77,000 teachers would be appointed soon.
“Through this recruitment, the Prime Minister is giving the highest priority to education. The contribution of education to GDP will be increased from 2 per cent to 5 per cent,” he said.
KUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Muhammad Masud chaired the programme. National Parliament Whip Rakibul Islam Bakul, MP, who attended as a special guest, said KUET was a politics-free campus.
“No politics, either openly or secretly, will be allowed on this campus,” he said.
He also requested the education minister to arrange a modern medical centre and five to 10 electric buses for the university. Professor Muhammad Shahjahan Ali, chairman of the University Day-2026 celebration committee, and Professor Hasan Ali, director of student affairs, also addressed the inaugural ceremony.
The day-long programme began in the morning with a gathering in front of the university auditorium.
The celebrations included hoisting the national flag, singing the national anthem, a colourful rally, visits to stalls, a presentation titled ‘KUET’s Achievements (Heritage and Future)’, discussions and a tree plantation programme.
In the afternoon, poster and project presentations were held at the Student Welfare Centre, while visitors were allowed to tour laboratories of different departments.
A friendly football match between teachers and students was held at 4pm, followed by a doa mahfil at the university central mosque seeking blessings for the welfare of the country and its people.
The celebrations concluded with a cultural programme at the university auditorium in the evening.
