"It is my special request to the teachers to ensure that classes in the educational institutions run regularly in any situation. Protests, if necessary, can be demonstrated without hampering classes," she said.

"You have to create scope for those who want to complete their education within the session and enter their respective career," the prime minister said addressing convocation of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).

She asked all to think about the country's future if the institutions of higher education remain inoperative day after day.

As the prime minister spoke at the Buet, classes at Dhaka University (DU) could not take place on the day, as also previous days since the DU teachers started work abstention protesting attack on their colleague Prof. Humayun Azad on February 27.

The prime minister at the seventh Buet convocation, being held after three years, conferred graduation degree on 1914, postgraduate degree on 302, doctor of philosophy on 10 students of the engineering university. She also presented gold medals to 32 students for their brilliant results.

Education Minister M Osman Farruk, State Minister for Education Ehsanul Huq Milon and Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohammad Ali Mortaza also addressed the function attended by ministers, MPs, guardians and a large number of former students.

Former vice-chancellor of the university, former adviser of the caretaker government and President of Bangladesh Diabetic Association Prof Wahiduddin Ahmed delivered his convocation speech.

Asserting that education is a basic right of the people and its door should remain open to all, Prof Ahmed said the mater of higher education is, however, different altogether. "In this case the number does not matter. The importance of quality is much greater than quantity. Higher education should be talent-based."

The prime minister in her speech reminded the newly graduated engineers of a debt they owe to the people as huge amounts of public money were spent on their education and acquiring of special knowledge.

"The common people of Bangladesh are spending a lot of money each year on your education. It is your responsibility to repay the loan," she said. The country wants to see the young engineers, planners and architects as the workers in development.

Khaleda said the government has attached top priority to expansion and improvement of the standard of education and is carrying out various programmes to make education available for all.

She said various programmes have been taken to ensure the basic right to education for every citizen irrespective of financial capability, social status and gender.

The prime minister mentioned that curriculum and courses at different levels had been redesigned suiting needs of the time. Stress has been laid on English along with the mother tongue Bengali, cheating in public examination has been checked and a commission formed for reforms in education.

Khaleda said it is not possible to survive in this competitive world without quality education. She called for faster development and dissemination of technical knowledge, including Information Communications Technology (ICT) and biotechnology.

The engineers have to make a significant contribution in information technology for creating employment opportunities and providing the industries with capacity of increasing production.

Earlier, the prime minister, attired in ceremonial gown, entered the venue leading the convocation procession.