Parents’ love and sacrifice behind every student’s success: Mahdi Amin

Prime Minister’s Adviser and Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin has urged graduates to remember their parents’ love, sacrifice and perseverance behind their achievements, while using their knowledge and skills to bring meaningful changes to society.

Addressing the 38th convocation of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) as the convocation speaker on Sunday, he called on graduates to become responsible citizens, lead with courage and use technology for the welfare of humanity.

He said graduation was not only a celebration of academic achievement but also an opportunity to reflect on the journey, challenges and sacrifices that had brought students to this milestone.

Recalling their years of study, he said graduates had overcome sleepless nights, examination anxieties and laboratory challenges to reach this stage, fulfilling the aspirations of their parents.

Mahdi Amin described IUT as one of Bangladesh’s leading educational institutions, with a rich legacy of producing talented engineers whose work had made an impact beyond the country’s borders. He said graduates would carry the university’s reputation with them as they pursued their careers at home and abroad.

Highlighting the university’s international character, he said IUT represented unity among Muslim countries, reflecting their shared aspirations, brotherhood and commitment to a common future.

He also referred to the university’s historical significance, saying its foundation stone had been laid by former president Ziaur Rahman alongside Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. He recalled that former prime minister Khaleda Zia had visited the campus several times and attended its convocations.

The adviser said graduates had two choices: focus solely on their individual careers or use their knowledge, skills and opportunities to fulfil a greater responsibility towards society and humanity.

While pursuing higher education, securing good jobs or establishing businesses were worthwhile goals, he said, graduates also had the potential to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

He urged them to become responsible citizens capable of leading, setting new standards of achievement and contributing to the empowerment of women, children and young people.

Referring to rapid technological advances, including artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, Mahdi Amin said technology alone could not determine how innovations would be used. Human values, ethical principles, sound judgement and integrity would shape whether technological progress benefited humanity or caused harm, he added.

He encouraged engineers, researchers and graduates from different disciplines to transform industries, solve real-world problems and develop innovations that protect and benefit society.

The next major technological breakthrough need not come from Silicon Valley, he said, expressing confidence that IUT graduates could drive the next wave of technological innovation.

He also expressed hope that the government, teachers and university administration would provide the necessary support and guidance to help graduates realise their potential.

Addressing international graduates, he urged them to carry IUT’s spirit wherever they went, saying differences in countries, cultures and languages should not overshadow shared challenges, aspirations, values and commitments to the Muslim world.

He called for knowledge to serve as a common language, innovation as a shared interest and humanity as a collective goal.

Concluding his speech, Mahdi Amin reminded graduates that their teachers had given them knowledge, their families had provided their roots and identity, and their education had given them wings to fly. However, he said, it was their responsibility to decide how to use their abilities and which direction to take.

He urged them to build things that endure, solve pressing problems, lead courageously, serve humbly and compete confidently on the global stage.

Congratulating the graduates, he expressed hope that their knowledge would advance progress, their character would earn respect and their contributions would help make the world a better place.