Dhaka: Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Tuesday called upon teachers and guardians to keep a close watch on students so that they cannot get involved in militancy.

“A number of brilliant students have already got involved in militant activities due to the wrong interpretation of Islam and thus ruined their lives. We should keep students engaged in creative activities through inspiration, affection and love,” he said while speaking at the 6th convocation of Southeast University (SEU) at Banghabandhu International Conference Centre in the city.

Lamenting that some universities cannot maintain the minimum standard of education, Nahid said it will not be possible for them to survive in the long run.

He also said the government never discriminates between the students of private and public universities. “We want to ensure quality education and all facilities for both of them,” he said.

The minister urged the private university authorities to fix tuition fees taking into consideration the socioeconomic condition of students and the country’s reality.

Describing private universities as a potential sector, he said some 1,632 foreign students are currently studying in those universities.

Nahid also said Parliament has recently passed the 'Bangladesh Accreditation Council Bill, 2017' to establish an accreditation council for ensuring the standard of higher education at both public and private institutions. “Activities will be taken to improve the standard of universities once the law comes into effect,” he said.