Dear members, Assalamu Alaikum.Please see my address in the Ist convocatio of manarat International University held in Dhaka in Bangla-China enter today ( 31.8.08) as the Chairman of the Manarat Trust, the Trust which is the Founder of the university .The function was also attended by the Honorable President of the Republic and many distinguished persons. I emphasised the crisis of humanity in my speech ( bold portion)
Shah Abdul Hannan Address Of Shah Abdul Hannan Chairman, Manarat Trust In The Ist Convocation Of Manarat International University Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Honourable President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and Chancellor of Manarat International University, Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed, Professor Dr. S M A Faiz, Vice-Chancellor, University of Dhaka and today's Convocation Speaker, Professor Dr. Mohammad Abdur Rob, Vice-Chancellor, Manarat International University and distinguished members of the Trust, Vice-Chancellors of different universities, distinguished guests, faculty members, officials, members of the media, graduating students and the members of their family. Assalamu Alaikum. Dear Guests, I warmly welcome you to the first convocation ceremony of Manarat International University. Manarat Trust was formed by some Islam loving intellectuals and social thinkers of national and international reputation for establishing value based educational institutions .We first established the Manarat School and College , then we planned for a university. In 1995, Manarat Trust plannaed for an university and submitted an application to the government in 1996. MIU finally got its formal approval in 2001. Manarat International University made a fine combination of modern and moral education. Manarat International University is not working for any commercial purpose. Our goal is to produce graduates with morality who will serve the nation as well as the humanity at large. Dear graduates, Like all of your well-wishers, I also congratulate you on your achievement. I also pray for your further progress in your higher studies or in your working life in service or in business. Manarat International University was established to give best professional education with strong moral value bias. As you know education and morality or religion was never separated from one another in history until recently. The situation was the same in ancient Hindu or Buddhist India, Christian world and Muslim world. The separation to a large extent took place after enlightenment (I am not sure whether it was an all round enlightenment in all sectors) in Europe. The Muslim education throughout was an integration of religious and professional sciences. The colonial administration introduced an education system which was not suitable for us in all respects as it was based on their enlightenment values. There were several movements in the Muslim world to make education system suitable for the local population including the movement of Sir Syed Ahmad in the sub-continent and Jadid movement in the Central Asia. After a lot of deliberation, meeting of scholars and conferences a blueprint was drawn for a modern university integrating values and ethics and the International Islamic University Kualalampur was established. The university is open to all religious communities. Other such universities have been established in various countries and Manarat has drawn largely from the Kualalampur model which is of very high standard, as good as Harvard or Cambridge, according to many. Dear Graduates, To many, the importance of the project in putting ethical and moral input in education remains unclear, and this issue demands an in-depth examination and a critical and careful analysis. In this respect, I would like to mention to you the difficult world you will face. The world is facing worst situation in climate change, environmental degradation, energy crisis and food crisis. On the moral level, people have become selfish, hedonist, money-hungry and power-hungry. Lack of principles have generally gripped international relations, domestic politics, business, culture and entertainment. Indecency has spread, people are by and large becoming robot-like, money earning machines with little commitment to their religion, moral values, their society and state and the people. In this situation, not only our country but also the humanity is in serious crisis. Cold war is raising its head again. The crisis facing our present world civilization is rooted in the marginalization of moral and ethical issues in the curriculum of educational institutions. As an outcome of this disrespect to eternal moral values, our educational institutions are producing many people devoid of love, affection, fraternity, brotherhood and the sensibilities of a common human citizenship. I feel you should not be a part of this, you will try your best to change this, al least create awareness about this problem. You will try to build a better world. I would like to thank all the distinguished guests for attending this programme. In fine, I heartily congratulate and pay my profound gratitude to the Honourable President for coming in our midst and attending the first convocation ceremony of the Manarat International University. I also thank the convocation speaker for being with us. Thank you, Allah Hafez Assalamu Alaikum.
