Academic degrees alone are not sufficient to remain competitive globally; competence, discipline and credibility are equally essential, Asif Nazrul said.

He made the remarks while presiding over the 7th convocation of the State University of Bangladesh (SUB), held on Sunday, 21 December, at the university’s permanent campus in Purbachal New Town, Dhaka. The convocation was dedicated to the memory of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.

Dr Asif Nazrul said that although Bangladesh has made notable individual progress since independence, the country has lagged in building strong institutions. Referring to post–Second World War Europe, he said sustainable development depends on institution-building rather than prioritising individuals.

Representing the Hon’ble Chancellor and President Mohammed Shahabuddin, he presided over the ceremony.

The convocation speaker, SMA Faiz, Chairman of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, urged graduates to transform technological challenges into opportunities guided by ethical values.

A total of 672 graduates received degrees, with medals awarded to top performers.