Dhaka, Oct. 8 -- President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday questioned why Bangladesh still needs foreign workers to operate various strategic installations, ports, specialised institutions and even private companies despite producing a large number of graduates for more than five decades after independence.

He made the observation when a delegation of Daffodil International University, led by Chairman of its Board of Trustees Dr Md Sabur Khan, paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban.

The President said the primary objective of both public and private universities should be to produce skilled manpower capable of meeting the country's needs.

He urged universities to focus on higher education in a way that helps develop skilled...