Staff Correspondent

University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed has underscored the necessity of establishing a culture of tolerance, free-thinking, open-mindedness, morality, and equity across higher educational institutions to eliminate prevailing instability, discrimination, and corruption in society.

The UGC chief made the remarks while addressing the concluding session of a two-day international conference titled "Philosophy for Peace," organized by the Bangladesh Philosophical Society at Dhaka University's Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium on Sunday.

Presided over by Bangladesh Philosophical Society President Professor Dr. Shah Kawser Mustafa Abululayee, the event featured Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, Professor Dr. Santosh Kumar Pal of the Philosophy Department at India's University of Burdwan, Global University Bangladesh Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Anisuzzaman, and former Bangladesh Philosophical Society President Professor Dr. Shahjahan Mia as special guests.

Prof Mamun Ahmed noted that the nation's brightest minds study in higher education institutions and subsequently lead critical sectors including state administration, judiciary, education, research, industry, and economics.

Acknowledging the reality that people from various walks of life have faced oppression, discrimination, and injustice due to long-standing authoritarian governance, he stressed that in the changed context, a culture of forgiveness, dialogue, and justice-based reconciliation must be fostered instead of vengeance.

University education is not merely preparation for employment, Professor Ahmed remarked, but a continuous process of shaping students into responsible citizens, morally grounded leaders, and global humanitarians.