BRAC University (BRACU) organised its 12th convocation at BRAC University Residential Campus, Savar (Khagan) on December 13, 2017.
Commemorating Victory Day on 16 December 2017 and Martyrs’ Day tomorrow, Professor Syed Saad Andaleeb, PhD, Vice Chancellor, BRACU, spoke of BRACU’s high achievements, including being ranked the top private university in Bangladesh by the QS Asia rankings and Dhaka Tribune-Bangla Tribune rankings.
He presented the graduates an acronym, “SPECIAL”, urging to focus their lives on the first words of self, partnerships, excellence, commitment, integrity, ambition and learning.
The convocation speaker, Dr Shahidul Alam, Managing Director, Drik Picture Library Ltd, spoke of his life in photography and of leaving behind a life of comforts in the UK to challenge the Western concept of Bangalees being poor.
He showed his keffiyeh explaining his support for Palestinians and said he was wearning a burnt paddy on a necklace protesting the torching of indigenous people’s houses in Rangamati’s Langadu upazila in June.
He urged the graduates to follow his path into accepting whatever it takes to protest and challenge injustice.
Nurul Islam Nahid, Education Minister, spoke as the chief guest and presided over the convocation ceremony on behalf of President and BRACU Chancellor Abdul Hamid.
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, KCMG and Professor Abdul Mannan, Chairman, University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, also addressed the convocation ceremony.
Around 1,600 students were presented crests and degree certificates, including two with the Chancellor’s gold medal and 30 others with the Vice-Chancellor’s gold medal.