Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder today attended at the book launching ceremony at a hotel in Dhanmondi in Dhaka. Photo : PID

DHAKA, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS) - Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder has stressed the need for improving the quality of education at the primary level to give a solid foundation of education for sustainable development. 

“Improving the quality of higher education is never possible without improving the standard of primary education. A country’s sustainable development requires a knowledgeable, skilled and disciplined workforce, which is built on a solid foundation of primary education,” he said.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at the book launching ceremony titled, “History of the Establishment of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University” at a hotel in Dhanmondi in the capital today organized by the Greater Mymensingh Cultural Forum. 

“University is not a place to be confined to a specific or limited subject,” he said opposing the concept of specialized universities and added that a full-fledged university will be a place for gathering all types of knowledge.

The Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University will be truly successful only when multidimensional knowledge is established there, he opined.

Highlighting the importance of Kazi Nazrul Islam’s memorable Trishal, he said, “Nazrul is an integral part of our national and state consciousness. Even though society was divided on the basis of religion during the partition, Nazrul’s non-communal and humanist ideals were never divided.”

Podder mentioned that through the Liberation War, Bangladesh has transitioned from a religion-based state mentality to a nation-state, where Nazrul’s ideals have triumphed. 

A nation-state must be based on commitment and rights and all citizens will enjoy equal opportunities and dignity, he said. 

“We must also strive to protect the rights and existence of small ethnic groups,” he said.

Regarding research on Nazrul, Podder expressed regret and said, "Although poet Nazrul Islam has been given the status of a national poet, institutional research on his literature, music and philosophy is still not sufficient."

The adviser laid special emphasis on making Nazrul research more dynamic.

Illustrating the country's primary education system, he said, "Although primary education has been declared compulsory and universal, government primary schools are still suffering from mismanagement. Children of many influential and respected people in the society do not study in these schools."

He further said, "Despite various limitations, the ministry is working to improve the quality. If primary education cannot be developed properly, national progress will be hampered."

Members of the forum, well-wishers and various professionals were present at the discussion chaired by President of the Greater Mymensingh Cultural Forum ASM Abdul Halim.