Mirza Fakhrul tells students: 'Be job creators, not job seekers'

"Not everyone will get a government job. So instead of running after jobs, build your own agro-based industries, poultry farms, or other agricultural ventures and create employment opportunities for thousands of others." — This was the message BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir delivered to freshers at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU).

He made the call as the chief guest at the orientation program for Level-1, Semester-1 students, held on Monday at the university's TSC Auditorium. Mirza Fakhrul is also the Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives.

Addressing the students, Mirza Fakhrul said, "You have earned the opportunity to study here based on merit among lakhs of students. But remember, every brick of this university has been built with the hard-earned money of farmers and working-class people. So after completing your studies, it is your responsibility to repay that debt to the country."

He mentioned that initiatives have been taken to turn the northern and southern regions of the country into "agricultural hubs," so that agricultural university graduates can become entrepreneurs and establish farm-based industries. He also emphasized the importance of bringing new technologies and research outcomes to the field level.

At one point in his speech, Mirza Fakhrul Islam said, "Politics will exist, but that politics must be positive and for the welfare of the people. Only then can we all work together to build a new Bangladesh full of possibilities."

At the event, the BNP Secretary General also assured full cooperation in resolving the university's accommodation crisis and increasing research funding for scholars.

The program was presided over by the university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Latif, with Prime Minister's Education Adviser Dr. Mahdi Amin attending as a special guest.

Also present were Anisur Rahman, MP for Madaripur-3 constituency, Sanjida Islam, MP for Reserved Women's Seat-16, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Belal Hossain, and Treasurer Professor Dr. Abul Bashar.

Deans of various faculties, department chairmen, and leaders of the university's student wing of BNP (Chhatra Dal) were also present. However, while activists from the Islami Chhatra Shibir and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement were initially present, they later boycotted the program.