Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday greeted all concerned on the occasion of the 104th founding anniversary of Dhaka University (DU), the country's highest echelon of academic excellence, to be celebrated tomorrow.

"I am happy to know that the historic Dhaka University, also known as the Oxford of the East, is celebrating its 104th founding anniversary. On this occasion, I extend my sincere greetings to all the teachers, students, parents and officials-employees of the university,” she said.

In a message on the eve of the day, she said this year’s theme of the day 'Higher Education for Skill Development of Young Generation' is time befitting, reports BSS. She mentioned that the then young student of the university’s law department Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman understood the reality that the state, which was created following 1947 partition, was not the safe place for the Bangla speaking people.

She said that Sheikh Mujib who played a pioneering role to wage strong movement for making Bangla (language) as the state language and with the span of time. Highlighting the role of the university in different democratic movements, she categorically said that the people of Bangladesh will ever remember the contribution of the institution for creating an independent state like Bangladesh alongside conducting intensive research on science and knowledge and achieving socio-economic development of the country.

Staying at the forefront, the students-teachers-employees of this university played a leadership role in many historic events like language movement of 1952, the six point movement of 1966 announced by the Father of the Nation and the Great War of Liberation in 1971, she added. The university always played a vital role in waging all democratic movements, flourishing non-communal cultural activities and fulfilling hopes and aspirations of the people of the country, she added.

The Prime Minister said whenever the Awami League (AL) has formed the government, it has given the highest priority to the development of the country's education sector in light of the education philosophy of the father of the nation. In this connection, she said the government is implementing various programmes for the development of education and research in Dhaka University. “As an ex-student of this university, I hope that Dhaka University will create new horizons in the journey of knowledge and light.”

“I believe that the students of Dhaka University will make an important contribution from their respective positions in building a hunger and poverty-free country as dreamt by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by 2041 by applying their acquired knowledge, intellect and creativity with patriotism, honesty and devotion,” she said.

The premier wished all for making the programmes organized on the occasion of 'Dhaka University’s foundation anniversary a success.