CU CORRESPONDENT
To foster higher education opportunities and cultural exchange between Bangladesh and Pakistan, the second edition of the “Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor: Education Expo” was held at Chittagong University (CU) today.
The day-long event commenced at 10:30 AM at the CU Faculty of Social Sciences Auditorium. Organized with the support of the CU Office for International Affairs, the expo featured stalls from Pakistan’s top-tier universities, allowing institutional representatives to showcase their academic programs and interact directly with aspiring students.
Under this initiative, the Pakistan government has announced fully-funded scholarships for Bangladeshi students, enabling them to pursue higher education at various premier Pakistani universities at zero cost. The event was overall supported by the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of CU and the Chittagong University Central Student Union (CUCSU). Following the main exhibition, the visiting delegates met and exchanged views with the student representatives of CUCSU.
Speaking as the chief guest, CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Dr. Mohammad Shamim Uddin Khan welcomed the initiative, stating that it creates a vital bridge for higher education between the two nations. He highlighted that a team from the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, which includes the CU Vice-Chancellor, is currently visiting Pakistan, and expressed confidence that this expo would open new doors for students. Following his speech, he inspected the university stalls to inquire about the offered facilities and thanked the guests.
CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Md. Kamal Uddin also extended his greetings, noting that numerous CU students secured scholarships at various Pakistani institutions following last year’s successful expo. He thanked the Pakistani representatives and urged students to capitalize on the excellent opportunities and benefits offered this year to further strengthen bilateral educational ties.
The seminar also featured insightful speeches from the Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner Muhammad Wasif, Project Director of the Human Resource Development Division at the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan Jehanzeb Khan, and the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Professor Dr. Md. Enayet Ullah Patwari. The program was conducted by Professor Dr. Mohammad Shahab Uddin, Director of the CU Office for International Affairs, while Professor Dr. Mohammad Moslem Uddin, Additional Director of IQAC, delivered the concluding remarks.
A distinguished gathering attended the event, including the Deans of the Faculties of Arts & Humanities, Business Administration, Biological Sciences, and Marine Sciences & Fisheries, alongside HEC Pakistan Counselor Athar Hameed Khan, hall provosts, faculty members, and student union representatives. Speakers emphasized that the Knowledge Corridor goes beyond student enrollment to catalyze joint research, faculty exchanges, and institutional relations, promising long-term positive impacts in Science, Technology, Medicine, and Business Studies. Following a documentary screening, guests officially inaugurated the expo with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, leading to a massive turnout of enthusiastic students seeking direct counseling on admissions, credit transfers, and career prospects.