<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged the young generation to take the country for a better future by acquiring knowledge and practicing science.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“I am doing whatever is possible for me. The young people must make sure that the forward march of Bangladesh is not be stopped,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister was addressing as special convocation of Dhaka University as the convocation speaker.</div><div><br></div><div>The DU organised the convocation to confer posthumous honorary ‘Doctor of Laws” degree on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a ceremony held at the central playground of the university. Bangabandhu studied law at the university.</div><div><br></div><div>The programme went ahead smoothly despite a dawn-to-dusk hartal called by BNP and Jamaat to protest Saturday’s violence centering the anti-government rallies they separately held in Nayapalton and Shapla Chottor respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina put emphasis on continued efforts in carrying out research works.</div><div><br></div><div>“More importance should be given to research works. We have achieved great success in agricultural research. Today we have ensured food security,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>In this connection, she mentioned that the government has launched Bangabandhu-1 Satellite and is planning to launch the second one.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Then we have to go to the moon. In order to go to the moon, I have already established the Aviation and Aerospace University at Lalmonirhat,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said that the only goal of her is to build a Bangladesh that the father of the nation had wanted.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Prime minister’s office is nothing to me. I could have become the prime minister long ago. But I didn't want it that way,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that she believes in using power for the welfare of the people.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“What I’m doing is to develop the country as the father of the nation had wanted to see. That's my only goal,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She asked the educated people not to forget the people living in rural areas.</div><div><br></div><div>“The more the rural people develop the better for the country. The progress of a handful of people is not desired. It has to be universal. Our development will come from the grassroots, from the villages,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>In her address the prime minister quoted frequently from the speeches of Bangabandhu on his dream about Bangladesh and his emphasis on agriculture, the country’s history, heritage, literature and culture.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that since 2009 the Awami League government has been in power and it has changed the face of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have been able to do that by keeping every word of the father of the nation in our heart and realising his dream. I did it that way,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said that the government has been able to alleviate poverty in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have been able to make economic progress in Bangladesh. However, Corona and war have created a disruption not only for but also for the world,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that Bangladesh became independent in exchange of blood.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“We will deliver the benefits of this freedom to everyone. Not a single person will be homeless or landless in this Bangladesh,” she vowed.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that the government is doing everything it can to move this country forward.</div><div><br></div><div>She thanked Dhaka University authority for awarding the Doctor of Laws to Bangabandhu.</div><div><br></div><div>“Dhaka University is the university in my heart. If I could get admission again, I would be happy to finish my Master's degree from here,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>In this regard, she said that she has received many degrees from many countries of the world.</div><div><br></div><div>“I am not satisfied with it. I didn't get it from my university. Of course I was given an honorary degree here, but it would have been better if I could have studied here again,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Education Minister Dipu Moni, Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Muhammad Samad, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Dr. ASM Maksud Kamal and Treasurer Professor Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed also spoke at the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the prime minister received the honorary degree of 'Doctor of Laws' (posthumously) of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM also enjoyed a brief cultural event performed by Dhaka University students.</div><div><br></div><div>At the outset of the programme, one minute silence was observed to show respect to Bangabandhu.</div><div><br></div><div>A video documentary on Bangabandhu and the history of Dhaka University was also shown in the programme. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>