President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed today called upon the authorities of both the public and private universities to come forward to materialize the hopes and aspirations of the people imbued with the sense of obligation to the nation.

"As the apex centre of higher education, universities have great role to play in imparting quality and time worthy education to the students so that they can face the growing challenges of the time," he added.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed today called upon the authorities of both the public and private universities to come forward to materialize the hopes and aspirations of the people imbued with the sense of obligation to the nation.

"As the apex centre of higher education, universities have great role to play in imparting quality and time worthy education to the students so that they can face the growing challenges of the time," he added.

The President said this while speaking at the 7th Convocation of the East West University at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC) here today.

Former chief adviser of the caretaker government Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman spoke as convocation speaker.

Vice-Chancellor of the East West University Professor Muhammad Sharif, President of the Board of Directors Jamaluddin Ahmed and the convocation marshal Syed Akhtar Hossain also spoke on the occasion of conferring degrees upon the graduating students.

The President said the main purpose of education in countries like ours is to develop and enhance the potential of human resources and progressively transform it into a knowledge- based society.

"This society will produce efficient and effective, responsible and rational human-being, who will contribute immensely towards nation building activities," he added.

Putting immense importance on learning Information Technology, the President said we are witnessing the convergence of information technology encompasses us in every step of our daily life. In the current era of IT revolution, the IT knowledge has become a must for every one's survival.

He said the emergence of worldwide economic order and the rapid development of Information Technology have extended us to the horizon of higher education particularly in the fields of market economy and information technology.

"It is obvious that the policymakers, institutions and the academia of the country need to gear themselves up to deal with the challenges posed by the new situation. It is time for all those who are associated with planning and implementing of educational programmes to revitalize thinking and focusing on the subject," he added.

"Therefore, we have to pay more attention on science and IT education along with the conventional arts and commerce in dealing with the present world order," he said.

Turning to the impacts of global warming as revealed by the Inter- governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) through its impact assessments identifying Bangladesh as one of the most 'susceptible countries' of the world, Professor Iajuddin urged all both at home and abroad to maintain an ecological balance in order to build a safe and habitable abode for all.

He said the impacts of global warming would increase the sea level, atmospheric temperature and rainfall and will intensify natural disasters in the form of floods, cyclones, storm surges and drought.

He also urged the students to keep accumulating knowledge, make the best use of your learning and pursue higher scholarship in ways that will enable you to take your full share of national responsibility when the time comes.