The government does not want to put the country’s future in danger, says Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Haisna on Sunday ruled out the possibility of opening educational institutions right now saying that students are the future of the country and the government does not want to put them at risk.
“We cannot open the educational institutions now because we want to move forward step by step so that they [students] are not infected with coronavirus,” she said.
The prime minister said this while publishing the results of SSC and equivalent examinations from her official residence Ganobhaban through videoconferencing with Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni who was present at her ministry with chairpersons of different education boards, reports UNB.
Dipu Moni, on behalf of the prime minister, received the results from the heads of the boards.
Sheikh Hasina said that students are the future of the country and the government does not want to put them in danger.
“That’s the reason why we won’t open any educational institution right now. If we can overcome this [coronavirus] situation, we’ll open the educational institutions gradually,” she remarked.
Terming the present situation as a crisis for the whole world, she asked all to have self-confidence.
“Self-confidence is the biggest thing; we have to face whatever situation we are presented with,” she commented.
The prime minister mentioned the country already faced a cyclone and high tide amid this coronavirus pandemic.
“We’ll face all crises, including the cyclone, with confidence and we’ll work together as we’re doing right now,” the prime minister stated.
Hasina said that the country will be able to overcome the coronavirus pandemic by working together.
“That’s the goal and that’s the decision of the government,” she further added.
Regarding the easing of the lockdown, the prime minister said everything was closed for a long time.
“Other countries are opening their wheels of economy in phases,” she pointed out.
In this connection, she briefly described various stimulus packages, and food and monetary assistance of the government for the welfare of the people.
She said the government, in 19 packages, allotted around Tk103,117 crore which is 3.7 percent of the GDP.
“I do not know if any country in the world announced such a huge amount (of its GDP) as stimulus packages,” she said.
The prime minister said the government has included all poor, distressed, and jobless people under its monetary and food assistance programs.
“Politics is for the people and the main aim of politics is to reduce their sufferings,” she stated.
Education gets top priority
Hasina said the government gives highest priority to education as it knows that to build a Bangladesh free of hunger and poverty, there is no alternative to an educated nation.
“If the ray of the education does not enter every house of the country, it won’t be possible to eliminate poverty from the country,” she said.
In this connection, she mentioned that the government has formulated the Education Policy and is implementing that to ensure that the light of education reaches every house.
She also said students of the country are very brilliant and they can prove themselves if they get the opportunity.
She requested the students to build themselves as the worthy citizens of the country imbued with patriotism and humanity, and said the government is providing all necessary support in this regard.
The Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim informed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally published the results of SSC and equivalent exams through a videoconference from her official residence Ganabhaban on Sunday morning.
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni handed over a summary of the results to the Prime Minister online from her Secretariat office. Deputy Minister for Education Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel was also present on the occasion.
Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus and Prime Minister’s Office Secretary Tofazzal Hossain Mian were present at Ganabhaban, while Secretary of Secondary and Higher Secondary Division Md Mahbub Hossain moderated the results handing ceremony at the Ministry of Education.
