"Education, research, science and technology will have to be placed above everything to make our independence meaningful," Khaleda told a Buet convocation at its playground, recalling John F Kennedy's famous words, "Independence without education is always vulnerable and education without freedom is always meaningless."

She assured the Buet authorities of government's all-out cooperation in its all activities, aiming at bigger development planning for the country.

Addressing its 9th convocation, Khaleda , also chancellor of Buet, said Bangladesh needs skilled engineers and technologists, efficient administrators and managers to build it as an industrially developed modern country.

She suggested the Buet authorities to consider with due importance whether it could offer degrees both in technology and management as done by the US universities.

"University Grant Commission (UGC) may extend full cooperation in this regard," she told the function. Former Buet vice-chancellors, its teachers and students, VCs of other universities and guardians of the graduate engineers also attended the convocation.

The prime minister said that they do not want to make education meaningless for lack of freedom.

Complete freedom and autonomy are necessary in administrative education and research works for flourishing merits of the students and better utilisation of Buet potentials, she said. "And then Buet will be able to implement new planning through national and international supports."

"I would like to ensure full freedom to the Buet to set up laboratory and Research Centre and introduce new education and research activities with international support and joint venture," she told the function.

She also assured of giving quick decision if Buet comes up with pragmatic planning.

Former Chief Justice Mahmudul Amin Chowdhury addressed the function as convocation speaker. Education Minister Dr Osman Farruk, State Minister for Education ANM Ehsanul Huq Milon and Buet Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Md Ali Murttaza also spoke on the occasion.

Khaleda as chancellor of the university conferred graduate and post-graduate degrees on the graduate and post-graduate students of 2001-02 and 2002-03 academic sessions of different departments of Architecture and Planning Faculty, Civil Engineering Faculty, Electric and Electronic Faculty, Engineering Faculty, Mechanical Engineering Faculty and Institute.

Some 789 graduate and 142 post-graduate students, received the certificates, including three of PhD degrees, at the convocation.

Abduallah Al Mujaheed, a graduate student of Computer Science and Engineering received the University Gold Medal 2005 for securing highest GPA. The prime minister distributed the award.

She also took part in the ceremonial convocation procession.