Former Indian president Pranab Mukherjee has said that the authorities must ensure opportunities for research and higher studies for students. Otherwise, the quality of education will not improve. He was speaking at Chittagong University yesterday (Tuesday). “The quality of education must be ensured. Don’t just increase the number of students and teachers,” he said. Mukherjee made the comments at the second special convocation of the university, where he received honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt).

CU vice-chancellor Prof. Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury conferred the degree on Mukherjee. The former Indian president said: “The government is to be formed following the rules of democracy based on people’s choice. People will choose their leader. Why should people face obstacles time and again in choosing their leaders? This has hampered the country’s development.” “After Bangladesh got independence, parliamentary democracy was adopted and power was given to people just like India and Sri Lanka. But people of Bangladesh had to face various obstacles. Even military rule was imposed for a long time. As a result, the foundation of parliamentary democracy could not be strong and that has been a major obstacle for the development of the country. However, the country is making progress despite all these hindrances,” he added.

Referring to the brutal killing of political leaders, including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Mukherjee wondered why there were repeated violent attacks on the political leadership in Bangladesh. “We’ve to find out if there is any political, social and economic reason behind the killing of political leaders,” he said.

He also said the killing of Bangabandhu within three and half years of the country’s independence was a big jolt for the nation. The nation gained independence after undergoing torture and assault and loss of lives.

“For a newly independent country, there are numerous problems. The problem is to build the country. The problem is to take the country forward. But the nation faced a huge setback immediately after its birth. This is something very rare. Abraham Lincoln was killed after many years of independence in America,” he noted.