It is indeed a matter of great pride that the 105th founding anniversary of the University of Dhaka—one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the Indian subcontinent, widely known as the Oxford of the East—is being celebrated. On this occasion, I extend my heartfelt greetings and congratulations to the distinguished faculty members, students, parents, alumni, current students, and all members of the university community.

Since its establishment in 1921, the University of Dhaka has played a pioneering role in advancing higher education, knowledge, and research in Bangladesh. Its students have provided leadership in every major democratic movement in the country's history, including the historic Language Movement, the Great Liberation War, the anti-autocracy mass uprising of the 1990s, and the student–people's uprising against fascism in 2024. Over the years, countless promising students have sacrificed their lives in struggles against authoritarianism and fascism. Through immense sacrifice and bloodshed, we have succeeded in restoring democracy in our country. Now it is time to consolidate that democracy, and the University of Dhaka has an important role to play in this endeavour. In this context, I believe this year's theme—"Restoring Democracy and the University of Dhaka in Higher Education"—is both timely and highly relevant.

In this era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, there is no alternative to modernising and updating the existing education curriculum in order to address the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and automation. The university must now formulate new strategies to develop future generations into a skilled and competitive workforce. To meet the demands of the technological revolution, subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Programming, Digital Entrepreneurship, Quantum Computing, Nanotechnology, and 5G Technology must be incorporated into the academic curriculum. Education should not remain certificate-oriented; greater emphasis must be placed on practical skills and competency-based learning, enabling students to perform effectively in real-life responsibilities. For this reason, equal importance should be given to practical training alongside theoretical knowledge. It has become imperative not only to plan but also to implement stronger collaboration between universities and industries through internships, apprenticeships, and industry-academia partnerships.

Merit and academic excellence must be the foremost criteria in recruiting qualified faculty members. The culture of research within the university must be further strengthened. To remain competitive with the world's leading universities, greater emphasis must be placed on research and innovation alongside conventional academic learning. Many alumni of the University of Dhaka are making significant contributions to academia, science, economics, and various professional fields both at home and abroad. There is considerable scope to engage these accomplished alumni in strengthening the university's education and research. In many countries, including the United Kingdom, university alumni actively support research and innovation through sponsorship and collaboration. I call upon the alumni of the University of Dhaka to become even more actively involved in promoting research and innovation.

A multidimensional education system should be developed by integrating culture, sports, and creative activities into the academic framework. To compete successfully in the global job market, students must achieve proficiency not only in Bangla and English, but also in a third language. Alongside technological competence, they must be inspired by ethical values and moral education. Students should also be made more aware of mental health, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Universities should nurture young entrepreneurs from within their campuses so that graduates become job creators rather than job seekers. In this regard, the University of Dhaka can play a historic role.

On the occasion of Dhaka University Day, I wish every success to all the programmes and activities organised in celebration of this important occasion.