Merit must be prioritized in teacher recruitment: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has emphasized the need to prioritize merit in teacher recruitment at Thakurgaon University, stating that the institution should strive to meet global standards rather than become a conventional university.

He made the remarks while speaking at the university’s logo unveiling ceremony last night.

Fakhrul said that all necessary steps, including ensuring merit-based recruitment of teachers, would be taken to help the newly established university grow into a world-class institution.

He added that such efforts would contribute to transforming Thakurgaon—currently considered a poor and underdeveloped district—into a recognized educational hub.

The programme was presided over by Thakurgaon University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Md Israfil. Among others, Thakurgaon-2 lawmaker Dr Abdus Salam, Thakurgaon-3 lawmaker Zahidur Rahman, University Grants Commission (UGC) Member Prof Dr Mohammad Ayub Islam, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rafiqul Haque, Police Superintendent Belal Hossain, District BNP President Mirza Faisal Amin, and Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO) Executive Director Dr Md Shahid Uz Zaman also addressed the event.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Dr Mohammad Ayub Islam noted that establishing a public university is a complex and time-consuming process. However, he said Thakurgaon University has made significant progress within a short period.

He added that the university has already identified a suitable campus site and assured continued support from the UGC for its development. He also thanked Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for his role in advancing the institution’s establishment.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Israfil expressed gratitude to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and the UGC for their contributions to establishing the university.

He also acknowledged the work of renowned artists Prof Mohammad Yunus and Prof Shishir Bhattacharya, both from Thakurgaon, for designing the university’s monogram.