‘Student activism has a place in education’

Student movements should be viewed as an important part of academic education rather than negatively, State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki said on Friday.

“Education movements or student movements are a very important part of our academic education. There is no scope to view them negatively,” he said while addressing the 5th National Debate Festival organised by Dhaka College Debating Society.

Saki made the remarks as the chief guest at the festival at the Dhaka Shaheed A N M Nazib Uddin Khan Khurram Auditorium at 11:30am.

He said a sense of consideration for others distinguishes human beings from one another.
“People rise up, rebel, unite and become prepared to sacrifice their lives because they have a sense of consideration for others,” he said.

The state minister also stressed the need to transform Dhaka College, saying its present appearance still largely reflects the institution’s traditional character.

“Looking at the appearance of Dhaka College, it seems like a traditional college. The way we have seen the college in the past, it still looks almost the same. Now it seems that the college needs change,” he said.

He said a master plan would be prepared based on the available space on the Dhaka College campus and development work would be carried out accordingly.

Recalling the sacrifices of young people during the July mass uprising, the planning state minister said the younger generation had created a major chapter in history in 2024.

“The young generation created great history in 2024. Thousands of young people are still carrying wounds on their bodies. Some cannot see with their eyes, while others have become permanently disabled,” he said.