2nd Convocation

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed, Honorable President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Mr. Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman, Board of Governors, Daffodil International University, Professor Nazrul Islam, Chairman, University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, Professor Dr. Aminul Islam, Vice Chancellor, Daffodil International University, graduating students, parents, faculty members, ladies and gentlemen

Assalamu Alaikum

It is indeed a great pleasure and privilege for me to attend the Second Convocation of Daffodil International University as the Convocation Speaker. On this grand occasion, I congratulate all the new graduates for achieving this glory in their academic life. I would also like to congratulate all the parents for the sacrifice they have made to ensure proper education for their young ones. I am sure their expectation and sacrifice will not go in vain and the future will justify the financial investment they have made for the higher education of their children. I also congratulate the teachers who have painstakingly persevered with their wards.

The graduates who have come out with flying colors will have to shoulder the responsibility to develop the country in diverse fields of activity. After years of hard work and rigorous training, enlightened graduates will pursue varied professions to mold themselves as worthy citizens of our country. Their service effort, honest persuasion, and social commitment will contribute to enhancing the prestige and reputation of their alma mater.

I take great delight in mentioning that Daffodil International University, as one of the leading private universities of Bangladesh, has played a commendable role for the expansion of higher education. In a country like ours where only a small percentage of graduates qualify for admission to public universities, the need for private sector participation cannot be overemphasized. The nation will certainly acknowledge the initiative of the private sector to support the public sector in providing education and producing able graduates to lead Bangladesh on the road to progress and prosperity in the decades to come. It is my firm belief that Daffodil International University will provide time-befitting education together with ingrained moral and religious values to produce competent graduates to meet the demand of the time.

Compared to a few years ago, the world we live in today is passing through cataclysmic changes in scientific progress and technological advancement. In a world where knowledge is power and dissemination of knowledge is a necessity, where commercial activities rely largely upon interaction among nations, the quality of human resources equipped with the knowledge of modern science and technology will inevitably become an icon for success for a developing country like Bangladesh.

The Universities, therefore, have a leading role to play to develop the nation’s human resources by producing quality graduates to meet the demand of the time. It is very gratifying to note that within a short span of time, DIU has grown into one of the pioneer universities of Bangladesh. I am happy to see that this university offers courses on major subjects like BBA, MBA, Management Information System (MIS), Computer Science, Computing and Information System (CIS), Textile Engineering, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering, English, Law, Economics, Journalism and Mass Communication, Environmental Science, Real Estate, etc to its students.  In no time the graduates will enter into the practical world where skilled knowledge in these areas will offer them more opportunities to make a successful career.

The world today is rapidly going to be reorganized and controlled by specialists and technicians. It can never be completely controlled but in the spectacular achievements of applied science and technology, we tend to lose sight of the need for capable persons in the field of human relationships. One of the functions of the university is to develop character and personality and to produce men and women who should develop fellow feelings and compassion for others. It is for this reason that adequate provision for extracurricular activities of university life is rightly stressed.   There is a great demand for more scientists, technicians, and “practical men” but the university should exercise the freedom to provide for students a cultural, spiritual, and human development, otherwise they will become as much slaves to the modern machine age as are forced laborers in a soulless autocracy.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Bangladesh has made considerable progress in establishing a comprehensive education system ranging from primary to higher levels. Quality education, however, is a common expectation at all levels. Even though we have examples of academic excellence in limited areas, the overall quality of higher education remains a serious concern for the lack of adequate funds, shortage of qualified teachers, weak management, and inadequate supervision. In many universities access to ICT, science laboratories and other academic facilities are very limited. There is also inadequate focus on science and technology or on areas of skilled manpower. The purpose of higher education is to produce skilled manpower with quality education to face the challenge of the time. I believe DIU will make a major contribution in producing graduates with skilled knowledge and religion based humanitarian outlook on life.

Dear Graduates,

It is indeed a red letter day in your life that you will preserve in your memory forever. It makes the end of your academic career and now you are on the threshold of a new world which you will bravely face with the knowledge that you have acquired from your alma mater. On the one hand, it is a day of joy and jubilation. On the other hand, it is a day of leaving your alma mater to enter into the real battle of life. You will of course choose different professions according to your intellectual ability, taste, and temperament. But you should always bear in mind that nothing can be achieved without hard work, devotion, and commitment. It is your performance and dedication that will translate your academic degrees into a successful life. A mere academic degree will soon be a past event. What will matter is your continuous performance. Corruption has become a threat to social progress and prosperity and forces of evil are very strong. These forces must be defeated so that forces of good can triumph over evil.

May Allah guide you in your endeavor to achieve success and glory in life.

Allah Hafez

"Dear students, on the special occasion of the 2nd Convocation of Daffodil International University, my greetings, and congratulations to all of you.  I convey my heartiest gratitude to the Chief Guest Honorable President of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh and Honorable Chancellor of our university Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed. My sincere gratitude also to the Convocation Speaker Justice Mustafa Kamal, Honorable Vice Chancellor, Advisor, Dean, Registrar, faculty members, and officials who work hard to graduate the young stars of the country, Assalamualyikum and very good morning.

In fact, the trial-blazing success stories of Daffodil’s various concerns inspired me to take initiative in the founding a university with the vision of a social entrepreneurship venture offering demand-oriented, innovative, and world-class higher education to meet the human resources development challenges of the 21st century. I must say I have been successful in the venture with the cooperation of a band of qualified academicians and other expert personnel.

I know today our students are going to get their recognition. When you come to your maturity, smiles slowly disappear, giving way to signs of concern. You understand that it is the anxiety about your future that has taken away your smiles.  When you complete your education, the crucial questions that face you are: “What would I do after my education? Will I get employment?” Your parents, who have spent all their savings on your education, also share the same concern.  Their concern really makes us think about the future of the students. I go on thinking about the way out.

Concern about employment is not only for those who are fortunate enough to have a university education. It is the same fading away of the smiles, the shattering of the dreams, and the weaning away of the gleam in the eyes of every section of youth in the country. The only answer to retaining the smile of life is to generate scope for employment. It is connected with the aspirations of nearly 60 million youths of our country. Hence, Daffodil International University works for such a course curriculum and other activities that will enable the students to compete in the employment market.

DIU education is always student-oriented and IT-friendly. To connect the students with information technology and empower them with the necessary knowledge, recently, the authorities have adopted a scheme for providing personal computers and laptops at affordable prices to all of them. Under the scheme, the students can enjoy the facility of easy installment. I hope the students will be able to enhance their computer skills, deriving maximum benefit from it.

Repeated failures of larger and larger dimensions in our national activities and in the international arena are on the one hand reducing the self-confidence of people and on the other hand, projecting a poorer image of the country in the world. The whole nation is in a vicious circle of non-development. Under these circumstances, there must be some initiatives with far-reaching consequences to lead the country to the road of progress. Where else can we take the initiative other than in demand-based technological education?  
The prime objective for Bangladesh, a populous country with a cheap labor force, should be to turn its huge population into skilled manpower of international standard. Our general likeness for education in liberal arts should be shifted to demand-based technological education and our research and development activities in information processing and teaching should be directed to solving indigenous problems.  

Poverty and underdevelopment are in-built into our culture. Information propagated across the country by many of our rural bards, preachers and poets illustrate that the world is an inn where material development and accumulation of wealth are discouraged, and where poverty glorifies a human. For sustainable socio-economic development, we need to change this attitude and give proper attention to education, particularly science and technology.    
Our country has a lot of potential sectors for exploration. We can create competent manpower for healthcare, the textile industry, water harvesting and recycling, wasteland development, biofuel generation, village knowledge center, environmental science, real estate, telecommunications, solar power, etc. DIU has already ventured into some of these demand-based disciplines. Some others are in the offing.

Despite different barriers, Bangladesh is moving ahead, with rising foreign exchange reserves, global recognition of textile and garments, technological competence, pharmaceutical production, and the emergence of 60 million youths both men and women as a dynamic positive force for national development. We have many things to be optimistic about. The interest shown by giant international companies to invest in our country, setting up new R&D centers, development in agriculture and food processing, education and healthcare, information and communication technology, infrastructure development, and self-reliance on critical technologies can really transform Bangladesh into a developed nation. 
I firmly believe we can build up a happy and prosperous Bangladesh by properly utilizing our natural and human resources. 
Thank you very much for making the 2nd convocation of Daffodil International University a success.

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Honorable President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Chancellor of Daffodil International University, His Excellency, Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed;

The Convocation Speaker, Justice Mustafa Kamal, Former Chief Justice of Bangladesh;

Honorable Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr. Md. Sabur Khan, and Members;

Professor Nazrul Islam, Honorable Chairman of University Grants Commission of Bangladesh and Members;

My colleagues, distinguished guests, dear graduating students, ladies, and gentlemen.

Assalamu Alaikum.

I am extremely pleased to welcome you all to this solemn ceremony of the Second Convocation of Daffodil International University.

We are really happy and highly encouraged to have the Honorable President and Chancellor of Daffodil International University Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed among us today. It is particularly gratifying that Your Excellency – a former Hall-mate in Salimullah Muslim Hall, Department-mate in the Soil Science Department, University of Dhaka, and colleague in the same Department from 1950 to 1990 – should, as Chancellor, be presiding over our Second Convocation.

We are indeed grateful to your Excellency for the sustained interest you have been taking in the growth and development of university education in Bangladesh in general and private universities in particular.

I am also thankful to Justice Mustafa Kamal, Former Chief Justice of Bangladesh for delivering the Convocation speech. Justice Mustafa Kamal had been an outstanding student and leading figure in different extra-academic activities in Dhaka University during the early fifties when I myself was a year junior student to him there. It is a matter of pride for us to have him as a convocation speaker. 

Ladies and Gentlemen

Two years back in addressing the first convocation of Daffodil International University on May 24, 2006, I spoke of the university’s mission, academic atmosphere, intellectual climate, and physical environment. Today, I wish to state the important functions of a private university, vis-à-vis Daffodil International University. The functions of a university are manifold. The advancement of knowledge by quality teaching, research, creative work, and the pursuit of truth is the primary function of a university. The last century has been credited with notable advances in knowledge and ideas, inventions, and creative innovations. The phenomenon of globalization has added a new dimension. With all these achievements as a basis of future progress, the university is to add its contribution to it to move forward. It is not a denial that teaching and research are two distinct functions but in a properly organized university, a judicious application of both can be adequately secured.

When the teachers devote their time not only to imparting what they know but also to increasing their extent of knowledge through research, the two objectives are fully realized. Thus realizing the role of research in higher education, DIU has established two full-fledged research centers in the Faculties of Business and Economics, and Science and Information Technology with the objective to encourage, conduct and carry out research. Necessary support for research by the teachers and students is also being provided through these centers. Two journals, namely, the DIU Journal of Science and Information Technology and the DIU Journal of Business and Economics are published regularly twice a year. The university has one hundred and thirty teachers, many of them are foreign-trained and experienced scholars who constantly inspire the students with intellectual honesty of mind, sincerity, and intellectual purity of purpose.

An important function of a university is to develop character and personality and produce men who know their fellow men. I believe that the main goal of all students is to be good human beings. It is very hard to attain in this age. But it is possible if they could be provided with a supportive environment and system. DIU is maintaining a wide spectrum of extra-academic activities for the students. The students are participating in sports, cultural programs, debate, and literary competitions at intra-university, inter-university, and national levels. The policy of DIU is such that the students will be kept busy all the time without any disruption of their academic pursuits. For holding these operations successfully, the university has formed the Sports & Cultural Club, Debating Club, Language Club, Film Club, MBA Club, ETE Club, etc.  The students are being nurtured in a disciplined environment so that they can be good human beings who are morally strong, physically able, mentally well-equipped and alert, capable of making decisions, and possessing social qualities.

Another important function of a university is to equip students for future employment. The whole education system in DIU has been designed so that the students can respond efficiently and flexibly to the fast-changing demands of the market and economy. The education that our students will receive at DIU will transform them into highly qualified and skilled graduates who will be able not only to contribute to improving the socio-economic, technological, and social conditions of the nation but also be able to compete with other graduates in finding a suitable place in the internal market.

At present, in this globe, maddening competitions are demanding super human-like figures. Again, a silent economic depression is underway. With the forces of some other similar agents, the dimensions of the demand for human resources have changed a lot. Only the fittest are being accommodated. DIU has shouldered the responsibilities of mold maker. To maintain the mission of preparing competent and skilled human resources, the university is providing some facilities and offering some certificate courses on Microsoft IT Academy, CISCO Networking Academy, Sun Academic Initiative Program, and Red Hat Academy. The Prometric Testing Centre and Career Development Center are offering a range of services including online exam facilities, career counseling, development activities, workshops, part-time and casual employment services, etc.

Graduates of the university

I congratulate you most warmly for having had the privilege of being a member of this great seat of learning. For all of us, this is a day of joy and pride, as it marks the successful termination of the rigorous process that started early in your childhood.  You have our best wishes and blessings on your future journey.

I take this opportunity to quote a few lines from the speech of Dr. W.A. Jenkins, delivered, in 1955 to the graduating students of Dhaka University including myself as a graduate student, “In this hard world of experience that will be tested will be other than those required in an examination hall. Perseverance and a capacity for hard work, the integrity of purpose and character, shrewd judgment based upon accurate knowledge, an understanding of human characteristics, and a sympathetic approach to all questions involving human welfare- are these qualities that will stand you in good stead in those days to come”- W.A. Jenkins 1955.

Dear graduating students, you are lucky to receive your degrees from a very distinguished academician and scientist, the Honorable Chancellor, Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed. Thank you, Honorable Chancellor, for encouraging us with your gracious presence. I once again thank Justice Mustafa Kamal, a man of honor, for being among us as Convocation Speaker on this memorable occasion.

Again, I congratulate the graduating students and their parents and wish the graduates success in all their future endeavors.

Allah Hafez