Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter emphasized that today’s students represent the future leadership of Bangladesh during the first convocation of North Pacific International University of Bangladesh (NPIUB) held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. Representing the President, she praised the university’s efforts to make higher education accessible to rural youth at low cost and highlighted Manikganj’s intellectual heritage, mentioning figures like language martyr Rafique and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. Akhter noted that many rural women rear livestock to fund their children’s education, underscoring the importance of higher education. She also appreciated the university’s evening courses for working professionals and urged recognition of rural talent. The ceremony awarded degrees to 467 graduates and honored outstanding students with various awards, including Chancellor’s and Vice-Chancellor’s Awards. Distinguished guests such as Dr. Valerie Ann Taylor and Professor Dr. Mohammad Kaykobad also addressed the event.