'People in no region would remain neglected'

Desk Report: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said her government has been working with an aim to give opportunity for every people irrespective of their creed, colour and caste and none would remain neglected because of topographic feature of any area.

"No people in any region would remain neglected . . . development of each and every people is important for the real and balanced development of the country," she said while awarding scholarship among meritorious students of minor ethnic communities of the plain land at Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The premier said her government was opposed to the idea of creating any extra- privileged group to ensure balanced and equitable development of the entire country.

 

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is a land of multi-colour, languages and ethnicities. So development of every ethnic people is important to take forward the country.

She said her government took many measures so that people of the ethnic groups can practice their culture and language and have access to educational opportunities. The Prime Minister said cultural centres were established in ethnic group inhibited regions to promote their culture, impart education and extend opportunities to take elementary education in their mother languages.

Sheikh Hasina said out of 160 million people only 3.87 million are members of small ethnic groups. Half of them live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and others reside in 55 districts across the country, she said adding the government gave utmost priority to education of every child.

A total of 350 students were given the onetime scholarship of Taka 25,000 for their studies.

 

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid was also present on the occasion chaired by Principal Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury. Director (admin) of the Prime Minister Office (PMO) gave welcome address.

Lima Toppo of Oraon community, a student of law department of Bangabandhu Science and Technology University, Goplagonj, spoke on the occasion on behalf of the scholarship recipients.

Agencies


risingbd/Dhaka/May 17, 2017/Rafiq/Nasim