Lack of moral feeling and conscience is leading the world towards strife and conflict, they said, advocating that philosophy and moral education be made compulsory subjects at all levels of education.

Vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Prof SMA Faiz inaugurated the two-day conference at the Teacher Student Centre auditorium.

Speaking as chief guest, Education Minister Dr M Osman Farruk underscored the need for establishing rationality, morality, human and democratic values at every sphere of society.

He also called on the teachers to disseminate lessons of philosophy beyond the classroom.

The teachings of philosophy have to be reflected in the practical life, said Barrister Moinul Hosein, chairman of the editorial board of the daily Ittefaq.

Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star, said everybody should practice morality at the personal level to maintain the moral fibre of the nation.

He said logic is absent in the political dialogue as well as personal conversation.

Practice of ethics, morality and rationality in both personal and social life is a must for a nation to achieve prosperity, peace and harmony, Anam added.

President of the association Prof Aminul Islam, General Secretary Prof Anisuzzaman and DU philosophy department Chairman Prof AQ Fazlul Wahid also spoke at the inaugural session presided over by Prof Syed Abdur Razzaq.