She urged the authorities concerned to put forward thoughtful recommendation and opinion for reforms in the rules and regulations for administering the universities, if necessary, for the sake of the country and people.

"Standard of higher studies is still not at desired level despite increase in the number of students, teachers and institutions, and scope and facilities.

"Grouping, neglect of teaching and research, and long time absence from educational institutions of a section of teachers are to blame for this. Such a situation cannot continue," the prime minister categorically said.

She underscored the need for reforms in the administration of universities while addressing the gold medal-awarding ceremony of Sushikkha Barsha (good education year)- 2003 at the Teachers-Students Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University (DU).

A total of 45 students of various departments and institutes of Dhaka University, who secured first class first position and highest grade points in honours examinations this year, were awarded gold medal.

Khaleda distributed gold medals to the recipients and mother of one of them. She also gave away MA Gani Memorial Award to a student among the recipients from the Computer Science department for securing the highest marks.

Education Minister Osman Farruk and State Minister for Education Ehsanul Huq Milan also addressed the function chaired by DU Vice-Chancellor Prof S M A Faiz.

Ministers, MPs, diplomats, academics, university teachers and students attended the function.

The prime minister lamented that the reputation of a university that was once known as the Oxford of the East -- a reference to the DU -- has, unfortunately, been blurred to a large extent.

"Lack of fair and peaceful atmosphere of education is responsible for this. Fame of the university has been damaged due to various conflicts of interest beyond education as well as political envy and violence at different times," she told the audience.

A lot of valuable time has been wasted, inflicting losses on the students as well as the country, she said.

It will be painful to say that the objective of education cannot be fulfilled if congenial environment does not prevail at the highest educational institutions of

the country. Conflicts and violence dominate over sound thinking, she observed.

The prime minister quoted Voltaire: "I differ with your opinion but I will protect your right to speech till death."

Mentioning the glorious and historic role of Dhaka University during the British and Pakistani regimes, she said the perspective has now changed.

"Now is the time when education, research and practice of knowledge will be the main and only pursuit of a university. Dhaka University will get deviated from its course of forward march and isolated from its tradition if it deviated from this responsibility," she observed.

Responding to the demands placed by the DU vice-chancellor, the prime minister announced that a 500-seat women's residential hall would be constructed on the railway land close to Curzon Hall.

Also necessary steps will be taken to renovate SM Hall and FH Hall. Land and building of Atomic Energy Commission on Dhaka University campus will be handed over to the DU, incomplete construction work of Senate Bhaban completed and arrangement made to allot plot to teachers at Uttara and Purbachal.