Published: 12:35 AM, 20 October 2026
Patriotism, ethical values essential to shaping next generation: Education Minister
Education Minister Dr A. N. M. Ehsanul Haque Milon has stressed the need to restore principles and ethics to the education system, saying that nurturing patriotism and strong moral values among the younger generation is essential to building a prosperous Bangladesh.
“We are moving far away from our fundamental moral foundations, which is a matter that deserves serious reflection. To build a prosperous Bangladesh, we must nurture the next generation on the foundations of patriotism and ethical values,” he said.
The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the three-day International Conference on Knowledge Integration and Educational Leadership (ICKIEL-2026), held at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST) on Monday morning. He addressed the programme virtually from China, where he is attending the World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference 2026.
Sharing his experience from the visit, Milon said Bangladesh had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China to improve the quality of technical education in the country. The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the international conference attended by representatives from 100 countries, will facilitate strategic educational cooperation across six priority initiatives aimed at bringing Bangladesh’s technical education up to international standards.
The conference was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Islamic Thought (BIIT) and Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology to promote the global integration of education and knowledge and advance international educational leadership.
Researchers, academics, policymakers and university vice-chancellors from around 15 countries, including Bangladesh, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Türkiye, Nigeria, India and Pakistan, took part in the conference.
The closing session, held at Professor Dr M. H. Khan Auditorium on the university campus, was chaired by Professor Abdul Aziz, director-general of BIIT and chair of the conference organising committee.
Former University of Dhaka vice-chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan and Professor Dr Golam Rahman, chairman of the AUST Board of Trustees, attended the event as special guests.
In his address, Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan highlighted several pressing challenges facing Bangladesh’s education system, particularly the disconnect between moral education and practical learning, as well as the growing skills gap among university graduates.
“We have been unable to integrate ethical education with worldly education. At the same time, our graduates lack the skills required to meet the needs of society. While the country’s overall unemployment rate is around 3.5 per cent, the unemployment rate among university graduates stands at 13.9 per cent. This is deeply alarming and represents a national failure,” he said.
He underscored the importance of aligning spiritual and worldly education while ensuring that formal academic learning responds more effectively to the needs and demands of society.
Welcome addresses were delivered by Professor Dr Mohammad Sarwar Morshed, director of the Extension Services Centre at AUST and vice-chair of the organising committee; Associate Professor Dr Md. Rusdan Mahad Jilani, dean of the Faculty of Leadership and Management at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), the conference’s co-organising institution; and Professor Dr Md. Ashraful Haque, vice-chancellor of AUST.
Professor Dr Golam Rahman also delivered a goodwill address.
Throughout the three-day international conference, prominent academics and researchers from Bangladesh and abroad emphasised the importance of bridging knowledge and ethics in modern education. The discussions highlighted the need to develop an educational framework that combines academic excellence with moral responsibility and better prepares graduates to address contemporary social challenges.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks from Professor Dr Md. Yusuf Ali of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, who expressed gratitude on behalf of the organising and co-organising institutions to all participants and contributors.
