The UGC Chairman, Professor Dr. SMA Faiz, attended a workshop as the chief guest. Photo: UGC

DHAKA, April 15, 2025 (BSS) - University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr SMA Faiz has urged the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to play a strong role in providing safety to worldwide all vulnerable children, especially those are at risks in Gaza.

He called upon the UNICEF to be vocal in stopping the indiscriminate killing of children by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, Palestine, and also to ensure the overall security of children.

The UGC chairman was speaking as the chief guest at a workshop on ‘conducting research, developing courses and academic curriculum in the country's universities at UGC auditorium here.

The UGC and the UNICEF jointly organized the workshop to ensure Social Behavioral Change (SBC).

Noting that Israel is destroying the future generation of Gaza, Professor Faiz said the UNICEF needs to be more vocal to ensure the safety of children. 

Calling for protest against Israel's brutal attacks, he said the UNICEF should also raise voice in the way the people of Bangladesh have expressed their love and sympathy to the Palestinians.

Speaking on the occasion, UGC member Professor Dr. Mohammad Anwar Hossain said a curriculum on SBC will be developed in coordination with the Outcome Based Education (OBE) curriculum.

Necessary training will be provided to the relevant university level teachers in this regard, he added.

This will be helpful in changing the behavior of the society towards the backward communities, children and women, the UGC member believed.

Some 12 teachers and researchers from various public and private universities took part in inauguration ceremony of the two-day workshop, said an official release.

UGC International Collaboration Department Director (Acting) Jasmine Parveen presided over the event, while UGC member Professor Dr. Mohammad Anwar Hossain and Secretary Dr Md Fakhrul Islam spoke as special guests.

Associate Prof Syed Tanvir Rahman of Dhaka University, Associate Prof Towhid Hossain Khan of Jagannath University, Prof Dr Sarkar Barbak Karmal of University of Liberal Arts, UNICEF SBC Programme Manager Md Badrul Hasan and other UGC officials were present there.