UGC Chairman calls for moral reform and ethical leadership in Bangladeshi universities to curb social unrest
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University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Mamun Ahmed has called for a fundamental shift in the country’s higher education sector, urging institutions to prioritize tolerance, ethical integrity, and intellectual freedom to combat systemic inequality and corruption. Speaking at the closing ceremony of a two-day international conference titled “Philosophy for Peace,” held at Dhaka University’s Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium, he emphasized that universities must become laboratories for justice and accountability to secure a stable future for the nation.
Professor Ahmed highlighted that university graduates eventually occupy key roles in state administration, the judiciary, economy, and research. He warned that if these institutions fail to cultivate a culture of fairness and moral responsibility, the next generation of leaders risks perpetuating the social instability and corruption that have long plagued society. According to a statement issued by the UGC, the chairman noted that while years of authoritarian rule have left a legacy of oppression and division, the nation must now pivot toward dialogue, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Addressing the role of educators, the UGC Chairman stressed that national development cannot be measured solely by economic growth. He argued that development lacking a foundation in ethics and social justice inevitably breeds disparity. To integrate these values into the academic experience, the UGC has begun developing training modules focused on soft skills, ethics, and moral leadership as part of an expanded curriculum. These initiatives are designed to move beyond traditional job preparation, aiming instead to mold students into responsible citizens and global humanists.
The event, organized by the Bangladesh Philosophical Society, brought together academics and researchers from across the globe to discuss the role of philosophy in addressing contemporary challenges. Chaired by Professor Shah Kawsar Mustafa Abulolayee, the conference featured insights from several prominent academic figures, including Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan and Professor Santosh Kumar Pal from India’s University of Burdwan.
Concluding his remarks, Professor Ahmed called upon philosophers and educators to champion critical thinking and reason-based discourse within university walls. He asserted that by strengthening these disciplines, the higher education sector could provide the necessary intellectual framework to dismantle deeply rooted biases and foster a more peaceful, equitable society.
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