Chattogram District Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia has said that academic knowledge or a high degree alone cannot make someone a truly good human being. Education must be combined with humanity, patriotism and social responsibility.
“Education that does not teach people to respect elders, love younger generations and stand beside others in times of need has little value for society or the state,” he said.
The district commissioner made the remarks on Friday (August 28) while speaking as the chief guest at an award-giving ceremony of the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra’s book-reading programme at GEC Convention Centre in Chattogram.
The day-long event was organised to honour students who participated in the programme in Chattogram city and achieved outstanding results.
Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia said books can play a major role in developing people as responsible human beings.
“A book is a vehicle that takes us closer to the past, helps us understand the present and enables us to plan for the future,” he said.
He stressed that the modern world is highly competitive and said young people must develop the skills and qualifications needed to compete globally.
“Bangladesh’s greatest strength is its large population. If we can transform every citizen into skilled human resources, the country will move forward,” he said.
Emphasising the true purpose of education, the district commissioner said students should not only develop their intellectual abilities but also learn compassion and responsibility.
“We do not want education that only opens the two eyes in front of us; we want education that also opens the eyes of the mind,” he said.
Criticising growing self-centredness and selfishness in society, the district commissioner said human beings are social by nature and no individual can prosper in isolation from society and the country.
He said academic degrees and certificates cannot make a person memorable unless the knowledge acquired through education is used for the welfare of society and the nation.
Referring to the sacrifices made by countless people for Bangladesh’s independence, he urged the younger generation to uphold the value of those sacrifices and take responsibility for building a safe and humane country in line with the aspirations of the Liberation War.
The district commissioner also emphasised the responsible use of technology.
“Technology can be an effective servant, but it can also become a dangerous master,” he said, stressing that students need both technological knowledge and an understanding of its safe and positive use.
He urged talented young people to utilise their knowledge and skills for national development and prepare themselves with a combination of patriotism, humanity and modern knowledge to strengthen Bangladesh’s position in the global arena.
Bishwa Sahitya Kendra has been running its nationwide book-reading programme for 48 years, with the goal of helping secondary-level students develop into enlightened individuals.
Currently, around 150,000 students from nearly 1,400 secondary schools across Bangladesh are participating in the programme.
In the 2025 academic year, approximately 13,000 students from 101 secondary schools in Chattogram city took part. Of them, 5,896 students who achieved distinction in the assessment were awarded prizes in two sessions of the day-long event.
Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Md. Billal Hossain Khan, representatives of Bishwa Sahitya Kendra, teachers, guardians, distinguished guests and students from various educational institutions attended the programme.
