Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, has called for an engineering education system that meets international accreditation standards while remaining socially and environmentally responsible. She made these remarks today while addressing the 4th International Symposium on “Quality Assurance in Engineering Education through Accreditation” held at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka.
She noted that real quality in engineering must reflect environmental justice, social equity and climate resilience, particularly in cities like Dhaka, where earthquake risks, river erosion and flooding threaten vulnerable communities. She emphasized that while many engineering interventions aim to protect people and property, they must consider long-term environmental impacts, community needs and sustainability.
The Adviser said that engineers undertake decisions that shape national development; hence accreditation must embed ethical responsibility, environmental awareness and problem-solving that goes beyond conventional planning and infrastructure design. With the growing number of engineering graduates and private universities, she stressed that curriculum alignment with international benchmarks is now vital.
Expressing hope for concrete outcomes, she said the symposium should lead to enhanced curriculum standards, better practical training and stronger institutional capacity, enabling engineers to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.
In his remarks as Special Guest, Faez Ahmed Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser in charge of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, said, “Enhancing the quality of our engineering and technology education is critically important. While universities currently offer extensive theoretical coursework, there is a noticeable shortage of practical training aligned with industry needs. International cooperation can play an important role in bridging this gap.”
“Despite vast employment opportunities in industrial sectors, the shortage of skilled human resources remains a major challenge,” he added. “If the gap between academia and industry can be reduced, the country’s economy will become stronger.” He expressed hope that the two-day event and discussions would yield important policy guidance that will support universities in improving the quality of education.
Among others, Professor Dr. Nur Yazdani, Tseng Huang Endowed Professor, University of Texas at Arlington; Professor Ir Megat Johari Megat Mohd Noor, Chair of the Dublin Accord; and Professor Dr. Md. Sabbir Mostafa Khan, Honorary General Secretary, Institution of Engineers Bangladesh, attended as Special Guests. The event was chaired by Professor Dr. Tanvir Manzur, Chairman, BAETE.
The symposium concluded with a call for follow-up actions to enhance accreditation practices and modernize engineering education in line with international standards and national development priorities. Awards were distributed amongst engineers.