Absence of ideology in politics hurts President

Observing that student politics in the country has made a retreat from its ideology ground, President Md Abdul Hamid urged Tuesday all to shun personal and group interest and make student politics ideology- and public welfare-oriented one, reports UNB.

"I'm not against student politics because there's a necessity of student politics in creating leadership. But the leadership must be grounded on ideology and public welfare. All of us who were involved in politics in the 1960s had ideology... that ideology was to work for the welfare of the country and the people...There was no room for personal interest," he said.

The President said this while addressing the 49th convocation of Dhaka University (DU), the highest seat of learning in the country, at its central playground on the campus.

President Abdul Hamid said: "I'm hurt for the absence of such ideology to a great extent in student politics now. In some cases, student politics now seems as a means of serving the interest of particular persons or groups instead of serving the ideology. I urge all to make student politics ideology- and public welfare-oriented, coming out from personal and group interests for the greater interest of the nation."

A total of 6,080 students -- 2720 males and 3360 females-received their graduation certificates in the convocation.

Besides, 41 PhD, 20 M Phil and 49 MD-MS degrees were conferred in the convocation, while a total of 36 students also received gold medals for their outstanding results.

The President went on saying: "The veteran politicians started their careers through student politics. The University of Dhaka has vast connection with student politics. So, it won't be hyperbolic if the university is called a cradle of politics."

Prof Francis Gurry, director general of World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), delivered the convocation speech. The Australian lawyer was also conferred upon the Doctor of Laws degree at the convocation.

DU vice-chancellor Prof DR AAMS Arefin Siddique, pro-vice chancellor (Academic) Prof Nasreen Ahmad also addressed the function.