Emeritus Professor Dr Anwarullah Chowdhury spoke at BOU’s Central Conference and Training Centre during teacher training ceremony. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Aug 24, 2026 (BSS) - Former Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor and Emeritus Professor Dr Anwarullah Chowdhury today said that ensuring students' welfare and standing by them in times of difficulty should be a teacher's prime responsibility, as all activities of an educational institution revolve around students.

"A teacher who does not care about the welfare of students cannot be a good teacher. Teachers should stand by students in times of difficulty, behave like friends and have the mindset to learn from them as well," he said.

Prof Anwarullah made the remarks as the chief guest at the closing and certificate distribution ceremony of a four-month basic training programme for enhancing the professional skills of university teachers at the Central Conference and Training Centre of Bangladesh Open University (BOU), said a press release here.

A total of 58 teachers from 33 public and private universities participated in the four-month basic professional development training organised by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Emphasising the need to develop skilled and knowledgeable teachers for qualitative transformation in higher education, he called for continuous pursuit of knowledge and proficiency in English alongside Bangla.

He also congratulated the UGC for launching the training programme under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project.

UGC Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed chaired the event while UGC Member Professor Dr Masuma Habib and BOU Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Anisur Rahman spoke as special guests.

In his speech, Dr Mamun Ahmed said teachers should demonstrate restraint in their conduct in line with the expectations of society and the state, alongside fulfilling their institutional responsibilities.

He said the programme under the HEAT project aims to provide training to around 5,000 teachers and higher education managers across the country, while work is underway to establish a 'University Teachers' Training Academy' for teachers.

Dean of the University Teachers Training Academy under the HEAT project Professor Dr Laila Nur Islam, Project Director Professor Dr Asaduzzaman and Course Director Professor Dr Mohammad Zahir Raihan also spoke at the programme.