BRAC University holds 17th Convocation with call to ‘Make the Difference’

BRAC University held its 17th Convocation on its Merul Badda campus in Dhaka on Thursday (November 27), with the theme "Make the Difference".

Graduates, faculty members, and guests attended the convocation in a festive setting that reflected the university's journey and future vision.

A total of 2,055 graduates from 34 programmes received their degrees. Two students received the Chancellor's Gold Medal and 28 received the Vice-Chancellor's Gold Medal.

The Chancellor's Gold Medals were presented by chief guest Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser at the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar, Vice-Chancellor of BRAC University, presented the Vice-Chancellor's Gold Medals.

Convocation speaker Professor Adam Habib, Vice-Chancellor of SOAS University of London and an anti-apartheid activist, said graduates must shape their own futures. He said they must understand their agency and consider the leverage they will need as they face competing visions.

Chancellor's Gold Medal recipient Rana Tabassum delivered the valedictorian speech. She said meaningful change often begins with small steps and starts with individuals.

Tamara Hasan Abed, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of BRAC University, said "the most urgent need in our world now is for understanding and connection". Her speech was read out by Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Arshad Mahmud Chowdhury. She said the search for identity should unite people, not create division.

She added that her father, the founder of the university, said before his death that he was glad his life was not wasted. She urged graduates to make choices that would one day allow them to say the same.

Chief guest Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan encouraged graduates to consider careers in politics. He said Bangladesh needs honest and capable people in public life and urged teachers to inspire students to dream of future Nobel prizes.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar said graduates must use what they learned for human welfare. He said they would have to shape the future of society, the country, and the world, and urged them to use change to unite people.

A speech by special guest Professor Md Saidur Rahman, Member of the University Grants Commission, was read out by Khairul Basher, Director of the Office of Communications. Professor M Anwar Hossen, Member of the University Grants Commission, also spoke.

The ceremony ended with a vote of thanks from Dr Sadia Hamid Kazi, Chair of the Convocation Committee and Chairperson of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.