Highlighting the supreme sacrifice of the freedom fighters in achieving the country鈥檚 independence, prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said that all should pay the highest respect to them always so they could feel proud being freedom fighters.
鈥榃e have to show the highest honour to the freedom fighters,鈥� she said while handing over Prime Minister鈥檚 Fellowship-2024 at a programme at her office in Dhaka.
The prime minister said that all have to keep in mind that the freedom fighters had brought the country鈥檚 independence by shedding blood during the great Liberation War in 1971 at the directive of the country鈥檚 founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Many of them had sacrificed their lives and many others became crippled to achieve independence during the Liberation War, she said.
鈥楽o, I think, their honour will be the highest,鈥� she added.
Once upon a time, the freedom fighters were deprived, she said, adding that she had provided all support to them since she assumed office.
鈥楽o, they can say with pride that they are freedom fighters,鈥� she continued.
The prime minister said that freedom fighters were touted to be freedom fighters to her despite the fact they might have different opinions or could be involved in other political parties.
鈥楽o, all of them are respected by me. I want the people of the country to show them due respect decades after decades,鈥� she said.
The prime minister asked the Prime Minister Fellowship fellows to take responsibility for the country before going abroad for higher study.
鈥楾hey have many things to give. They have to develop the country further in the future,鈥� she said.
The prime minister asked them to remember that they were going abroad for higher education with the fellowship at the money of the countrymen.
Keep in mind, the money which is being spent for your higher education, is the money of the people, she said.
鈥榊ou have to pay special attention to serve the people,鈥� she added.
Sheikh Hasina also asked them to work for the country and its people after returning to the country upon completion of the degrees.
She said that her government would give a permanent shape to the fellowship by forming a trust by enacting a law as none can stop it likewise the then BNP government.
The prime minister said that after assuming power, the BNP government had stopped the fellowship that the Awami League government introduced after coming to power for the first time in 1996.
This year, as many as 11 persons have got PhD and 39 got masters fellowships.
So far, 308 masters fellows and 116 PhD fellows have been awarded the scholarship at the expense of around Tk 336 crore to facilitate their study at world-class universities. Of them, 215 masters fellows and 26 PhD fellows have already completed their degrees.
The fellowship is being given in three categories 鈥� government officers (BCS), government officers (Non-BCS) and others (private candidates).
The PMF was introduced in 2018 by the premier to facilitate the capacity development of resources across all sectors.
The Governance Innovation Unit, Prime Minister鈥檚 Office, has been entrusted with the responsibility of the management of the PMF.
PMF fellows study in many reputed universities in different countries including the USA, the UK, Australia and Netherlands.
PM鈥檚 education and cultural affairs adviser Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury and PM鈥檚 principal secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah, spoke at the function.
GIU director general Mohammad Abdul Latif gave the address of welcome.
Some of the PhD and masters fellows expressed their feelings on getting the fellowship and thanked the prime minister for awarding them with fellowships to help turn their dreams into reality and pledged to work for the welfare of Bangladesh and its people.
A video documentary on the fellowship was screened at the function.
Sheikh Hasina said the children are now very meritorious as they are currently studying in many famous universities across the globe at the age of technology.
鈥業 want to tell our children to cash in on the scope created by the technology to flourish your talents,鈥� she said.
The prime minister said that Bangladesh needed to move keeping pace with technological advancement.
鈥榃e have to march ahead with the same pace of the world. It is our target and we want generation after generation to pursue the target鈥� we don鈥檛 want to lag behind,鈥� she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that her government attached topmost priority to education following the footsteps of Bangladesh鈥檚 founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as no nation can prosper and develop without education.
She said that her government had also taken various measures, including setting up colleges and universities and offering fellowships for higher study to ensure overall education development.
The prime minister said that the government made education multi-dimensional by setting up different types of universities such as maritime, aerospace, aviation and science and technologies.
She mentioned her government鈥檚 priority on research and science and asked the scholars to give importance to research.
The prime minister also said that her government would build a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
She also expressed her hope to launch the second Bangabandhu satellite in a more developed way.
鈥榃e are going to start the work of launching Bangabandhu Satellite-2 within three months,鈥� she said.
