Lack of freethinking gives rise to intolerance: President

President Abdul Hamid has bemoaned that the nation is witnessing negative activities like intolerance, extremism, militancy, and fundamentalism in country's higher educational institutions, reports UNB.
He also identified the lack of cultural activities and freethinking as responsible for the emergence and rise of such activities.
"The nation is witnessing negative activities such as intolerance, extremism, militancy and fundamentalism in various higher educational institutions. I think this situation has emerged due to lack of free thinking and culture activities," said the President while presiding over the 10th convocation of Rajshahi University held on its premises on Saturday.
The President added, "Anti-liberation forces carried out evil activities in the educational institutions, especially, in the higher educational level to destroy the communal harmony by instigating fundamentalism and militancy after the assassination of the father of the nation."
Saying struggle for independence and liberation war as the glorious parts of the country's history, the President said "Independence is the biggest achievement of the Bangalees.
Universities will have to put in all- out efforts so that every citizen including students learn about the true history of liberation war to imbue them with the spirit of liberation war."
Stressing on the collective contribution of teachers, students, researchers, and parents, the head of the state also said, "The youth is our immeasurable strength. Our young generation must be independent thinker remaining free from the influence of evil forces to use their strength and potentiality in building the country. Only then we can achieve the desired goal of freedom and reach its benefits to the nation."
The President said that there is no alternative to political leadership in the development of the country and the nation. Democracy and development are complementary to each other.
A decent and capable leadership needs to be developed in the country to strengthen the foundation of democracy, he added.
He further said, "Leadership will be developed through student politics. In this case there will be no place for the individual or group interests. Student politics will be controlled in hands of students where there will be no place for any party influence. The student community has to play a leading role in this regard."
Eminent writers Hasan Azizul Haque and Selina Hossain were conferred D Litt degrees at the convocation.
A total of 6,019 graduates registered for the convocation.