A total of 37 public universities of the country today signed an Annual Performance Agreement (APA) with University Grants Commission (UGC) at UGC auditorium in the city for establishing good governance and excellence in higher education and research sectors.UGC Chairman Professor Abdul Mannan addressed the agreement signing ceremony as the chief guest while UGC Member Professor Dr Mohammad Yousuf Ali Mollah addressed it as the special guest.Acting Secretary of the UGC Md Shamsul Alam and representatives of the concerned universities signed the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions with UGC Member Professor Dr M Shah Nowaz Ali in the chair.Director of Finance and Accounts Division of the UGC Md Mizanoor Rahman, FCMA, delivered the welcome speech at the function.Prof. Mannan called upon all to discharge their duties by maintaining honesty, sincerity, integrity and best manners for establishing good governance and excellence in higher education and research sectors.He also stressed the need for upholding the best practices in manners and activities to curb the corruption.Professor Mannan also urged the university authorities to utilize the public money properly to turn Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country by 2041.The prime target of the Annual Performance Agreement is to make the activities of universities under education ministry dynamic, vibrant and transparent.Vice-Chancellors, Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Treasurers, Registrars and Directors of the concerned universities and senior officials of the UGC, were present at the function, among others.Source: BSS