"To attain this goal, we have to raise adequate skilled human resources in a planned way. We, in Bangladesh, also have been implementing various programmes attaching importance to education and training to build skilled human resources," Khaleda Zia said this while she was speaking at the 17th Convocation of Islamic University of Technology (IUT), a subsidiary organ of the Organisation of the Islamic Countries (OIC).

The prime minister underlined the need for reviving the glorious heritage of the Islamic civilisation and making the Muslim Ummah united, well- organised and far-sighted.

She said the Muslim Ummah needed to work for achieving excellence in various branches of knowledge and science to meet not only the demands of the current century but also of the millennium.

The convocation ceremony was also addressed by IUT Vice-Chancellor Dr. M. Fazli Ilahi and OIC Assistant Secretary Ambassador Dato Sofian Ahmad. IUT Registrar Ambassador Sofian read out the speech of OIC Secretary General Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz on his behalf. Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz is also chancellor of IUT.

IUT has conferred degrees on 188 students of various OIC countries. Khaleda distributed certificates and gold medals among four students - three IUT and one OIC gold medals - for their brilliant academic feat.

She announced that Hasanul Kabir of Bangladesh and Mohamed Ali of the Maldives would be included as members of the prime minister's entourage when she would attend the coming OIC summit to be held in Kuala Lumpur this month. Hasanul Kabir and Mahamed Ali got IUT gold medal and OIC gold medal respectively for their brilliant academic performance.

Minister for Science and Information and Communication Technology Dr. A. Moyeen Khan and State Minister for Labour and Employment Aman Ullah Aman attended the convocation ceremony as guests of honour.

Khaleda said religion of Islam had brightened the world civilisation with a fresh light after the emergence of islam about 14 hundred years ago.

She recalled with great honour the valuable contributions of scholars including Al-beruni, Al Razi, Ibne Sina, Omar Khaiyyum, Ibne Khaldun in medical science, mathematics, chemistry, physics, philosophy and literature during the golden era of Islamic civilisation.

She said the contributions of those scholars in different branches of science and knowledge had led the human civilisation to a higher stage of progress. "We are heirs to that rich heritage," she added.

"We would like to see this university as a centre of science and technological education of international standard," said Khaleda and sought continued cooperation of the OIC members.

She thanks the graduating students and expressed the hope that they would fully utilise their acquired knowledge in the socio- economic development of their respective countries.

She said the students who had come to this IUT from different parts of the world with great expectations would become the young pioneers in the spread of engineering and technical knowledge in their respective countries.

Referring to diverse language, culture and heritage of the IUT students, Khaleda said the amity and Islamic brotherhood that had been forged among the learners would be ever-lasting and enhance its consolidation.

Earlier, the prime minister, wearing convocation dress, entered the auditorium through the "Gate of Learning". OIC Secretary General Dr. Belkeziz in his speech, read out by OIC Assistant Secretary general Dr. Sofian Ahmad, described the graduating students as the future leaders of the Muslim Ummah.

"Today is an era of information and knowledge-based economy... We have to be innovative. We have to be skilled and disciplined", he added. Ministers, MPs, diplomats, and academicians were present.