UGC Chairman urges private universities to follow laws, ensure quality education and student welfare. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Sept 3, 2026 (BSS) – University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed today urged private universities to strictly comply with the Private University Act and relevant rules and policies in conducting their overall activities for the welfare of students and teachers.

He made the call while addressing as the chief guest a reception accorded to freshers and meritorious students of Sonargaon University (SU) at the Officers Club in the city.

Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sonargaon University Engineer Abdul Aziz chaired the programme while Jahangirnagar University (JU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan and Professor Dr Md Jamal Uddin of the university’s Department of Environmental Sciences attended it as special guests.

At the event, the UGC chairman said necessary action would be taken against those concerned if violations of existing laws and regulations are found and allegations of irregularities are proved.

Urging students to become respectful to teachers and the society, responsible and humane individuals alongside acquiring knowledge and skills, Prof Mamun said the UGC is working to ensure quality education and equal opportunities for every student without discrimination between public and private universities.

“A student’s success depends less on which university they study at and more on what they learn, what skills they acquire and how well they prepare themselves for the job market,” he observed.
Noting that the world has become technology-driven, the UGC chairman said knowledge and information from any part of the world are now within students’ reach.

“So, there is no reason to feel frustrated over whether a university is new or old. Students have to make themselves competent in knowledge, skills, creativity and research by making the best use of technology,” he said, adding, the university from which a student graduated would not be the main factor if they acquired quality education and the necessary skills.

Prof Mamun said around 50 lakh students are currently pursuing higher education in the country and the UGC considers itself the guardian of all of them.

“There will be no discrimination against any university—public or private, old or new, or engineering or agricultural. We have to build an integrated higher education system through mutual communication, knowledge sharing and cooperation,” he said.

Regarding private universities, the UGC chairman said the government has recently reduced VAT on private universities by five percent and the UGC is holding discussions with the government to reduce another five-percent of VAT.

The UGC expects private universities to spend the money saved from the VAT reduction on the welfare of students and teachers, teacher training, higher education, research and technology-based education, he said.

On the role of boards of trustees at private universities, the UGC chairman said they should not interfere in the academic and administrative affairs of universities.

“The academic and administrative activities of universities should be conducted under the leadership of vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors and treasurers,” he said.

Urging universities not to turn education into a commercial product, Prof Mamun said a university should be a centre for students, knowledge, research and free thinking.

“If any institution fails to comply with existing laws, rules and UGC directives, strict action will be taken as necessary in the interest of students,” he warned.

Praising Sonargaon University’s alumni network of around 20,000 former students, the UGC chairman said alumni are an important asset for a university.

He said communication and cooperation between successful alumni in different fields and current students could further enrich the academic environment.

Sonargaon University Board of Trustees Executive Member Advocate Umme Salma and Adviser Azizul Bari Shipu, teachers, deans, heads of departments, officials and employees of the university, guardians and media personnel were present at the programme.