Investing in education vital for Muslim world’s future: Touhid

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday said the Muslim world must significantly increase investment in education, science and technology to modernise its education systems and bring meaningful, long-term change to the lives of its people.

He made the remarks while attending the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) and the SEACO Universities Network (SUN) at the State Guest House Padma in the capital.

Addressing the ceremony, Touhid Hossain said that despite possessing vast human potential and a rich intellectual and cultural heritage, much of the Muslim world continues to lag behind in key areas such as education, research, science and technological innovation.

“Without prioritising education and knowledge-based development, sustainable progress will remain out of reach,” he observed.

He emphasised that greater collaboration among educational institutions across Muslim-majority countries is essential to narrowing existing gaps and ensuring inclusive development.

In this context, Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain described the MoU between IUT and SUN as a timely and positive initiative that could help strengthen cooperation among member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Touhid expressed hope that the partnership would pave the way for joint research programmes, faculty and student exchanges, and enhanced sharing of technical and technological expertise.

Such collaboration, he said, would not only improve academic standards but also contribute to innovation-driven economic growth across the region.

The MoU was signed by Vice-Chancellor of the Islamic University of Technology Mohammad Rafiqul Islam and Salahuddin Kasem Khan, executive chairman of the SEACO Foundation and a member of the SEACO Universities Network, on behalf of their respective institutions.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam was also present at the ceremony, along with senior officials, academics and representatives of both organisations.

The event underscored the growing emphasis on international academic partnerships as a means of addressing shared development challenges in the Muslim world.