UGC Chairman Prof Dr Mamun Ahmed speaks as the chief guest at an event at the University of Dhaka on Sunday. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Aug 2, 2026 (BSS) - University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Dr Mamun Ahmed today called for promoting tolerance, free thinking, morality and justice in higher education to help reduce social unrest, inequality and corruption.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the two-day international conference, "Philosophy for Peace", organised by the Bangladesh Philosophical Society at the University of Dhaka, he said universities must nurture ethical values, accountability and critical thinking, as many graduates later assume key leadership roles in governance, the judiciary, research and the economy.

Prof Ahmed stressed the need for forgiveness, dialogue and justice-based reconciliation instead of revenge, saying a humane and peaceful society begins with families and educational institutions. 

He said national development should be guided not only by economic growth but also by ethics, humanity and social justice.

Highlighting UGC initiatives, he said training programmes and workshops on soft skills, ethics and values are being introduced as extracurricular activities, with training modules already under development.

The conference brought together academics and philosophers from Bangladesh and abroad, who presented research on peace, ethics and the role of philosophy in addressing contemporary global challenges.