PM asks new generation to lead country towards prosperity

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday called upon the new generation to be prepared with the knowledge of science, technology and research to lead the country towards prosperity utilising their hidden talents.

"Our worthy children should be prepared with the knowledge of science, technology and research to lead the country in future. Hope you all will flourish your hidden talents in every sector and forward the country to make sure that Bangladesh doesn't lag behind anymore," she said.

The prime minister was addressing the award distribution ceremony among nationwide winners of Bangabandhu Talent Hunt Competition-2022 joining virtually from Ganabhaban.

Expressing her heartiest greetings to the winners, she said, "Your hidden talents are the future of our country."

The prime minister asked all concerned to find out hidden talents, saying, "Our children have plenty of intelligence and they are born in the era of technology. So, you should focus on searching hidden talents and utilising those for country's development."

Against the backdrop of global advancement in science and technology, she said Bangladesh has to keep pace with the evolution.

"So, we have to work on education and research of science, health, water resources, agriculture and others. We are giving most importance to the research," she said.

She also referred to her government's first separate allocation of Tk 12 crore for research particularly on agriculture to make Bangladesh self-reliant in food production after assuming power in 1996.

The prime minister mentioned that they allocated Tk 100 crore in the budget the next year (1997) for research, saying, "Research can show us the path (of prosperity and advancement)."

She went on saying that innovative thoughts among children can advance Bangladesh ahead.

"The new generation can march the country ahead through practice of science and technology," she said.

Describing the talent hunt competition as a marvellous system to reach grassroots talents, the prime minister thanked the organisers to include specially-able children in the competition as it is one of the steps to bring them in the mainstream of the society.

She stated that the differently able children have huge talents, saying, "We have to find out the talents in them and use their potential in country's development."

Sheikh Hasina called upon the new generation to prepare their mindset to work with all, especially the differently able children for the advancement of the country.

"I am telling the new generation that we have to mix and work with all of them to ensure our development," she added.

Mentioning that her government has transformed Bangladesh into a developing nation and has been working to make it a developed one by 2041, she said, "You (new generation) are the soldiers of 2041."

She also said her government has been implementing Delta plan-2100 to ensure an improved and secured life for generation after generation.

Following the footsteps of Bangabandhu, she said her government had nationalised 26,993 primary schools across the country and is distributing books free of cost and giving money to 1.40 crore students directly through their mother's cell phone alongside providing stipends and scholarship to two crore more students.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has given the topmost priority on the education sector as they consider education as the most effective weapon to wipe out poverty from the country.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Deputy Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury and Technical and Madrasah Education Board Secretary Md Kamal Hossain spoke at the function while Secondary and Higher Secondary Division Secretary Md Abu Bakr Siddique gave the address of welcome.

Fifteen students out of 7,680 participants have been awarded in 2022 with a cheque of Tk 2 lakh each, certificates, crest and medal while 117 others who took part in the competition also got Tk 30,000 each along with other benefits.