PM urges well-off section to help spread education
UNB
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said called upon the affluent section of society to come up and supplement the government efforts to spread the light of education across the country, reports UNB.
She said her government wants to build Bangladesh in such a way where there will be no superstition, myopic attitude, religious extremism and militancy.
The Prime Minister said this while distributing Kazi Mahbub Ullah Awards 2015 among four distinguished personalities at the National Theatre at Shilpakala Academy. Begum Jebunnesa and Kazi Mahbub Ullah People Welfare Trust organised the function.
Terming education as the backbone of a nation, Sheikh Hasina said her government wants to spread the education to enlighten Bangladesh society and build a happy prosperous country.
Hasina said the encouragement of talented students and a little bit of cooperation of the generous rich people of society can change the life and livelihood of a meritorious student and they could ultimately steer the country towards further development.
She said her government is implementing various programmes for the expansion of education, including distribution of free textbooks, stipends to 1.28 crore students from primary to tertiary level, establishment of Prime Minister Education Assistance Trust Fund with Tk 1000 crore as seed money.
Laying emphasis on research in all sectors, Hasina said it is her government which for the first time allocated Tk 12 crore as a lump sum amount for research during its 1996-2001 term. The amount has been increased manifold later, she added.
As a result, she said, the agriculture sector experienced a huge development, while agro scientists have innovated high variety of crops, saline and drought-tolerant variety of rice and thus Bangladesh attained self-sufficiency in food.Besides, she mentioned, people are getting winter vegetables across the year and Bangladesh is fourth in the world in sweet water fish production.
Praising Begum Zebunnesa and Kazi Mahbub Ullah Jono Kollyan Trust for its noble gesture of expanding education, Hasina said she and her sister donated all their ancestral assets ,including the historic house of Dhanmondi 32 to a trust titled Bangabandhu Memorial Trust and Museum.
Apart from providing financial help to poor and distressed people, freedom fighters and party workers, the trust is providing scholarships to 1,700 poor and disabled students every month.
