Monday, January 4, 2016, Poush 21, 1422 BS, Rabiul Awal 22, 1437 Hijri


PM says at scholarship distribution among meritorious students of small ethnic groups
Uplift marginal people
Staff Correspondent
Published :Monday, 4 January, 2016,  Time : 12:00 AM  View Count : 28
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that changing the fate of marginal people is necessary for the country's overall socio-economic development.
"Socio-economic development of marginal people is very crucial for making the country self-reliant economically," she said while distributing scholarship among the meritorious students of small ethnic groups living in plain land at her Tejgaon office.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government believes in inclusive development where people of every class, creed and caste will have opportunity to prosper. In view of this the government has taken plan for development of every people ranging from ethnic groups to physically challenged persons, she said.
The Prime Minister said, "The country will get rid of poverty quickly if the development of the marginal people be ensured and the future generation grow up as educated one."
Sheikh Hasina said the country's development is not possible by ignoring anyone, so, it is necessary to look after those people who live a neglected and a marginalised life.
The Prime Minister asked the authorities to find out the way for developing the fate of these sections of people and thus ensure their better social standing.
Sheikh Hasina said people of small minor ethnic groups have long been neglected though Father of the Nation mentioned about their rights in the Constitution. After his brutal murder no government cared about their rights. Even many schools denied admission to their kids, she said.
The Prime Minister said people of the ethnic minority groups are citizens of Bangladesh. "So they will live in the country as real citizen and will have access to every rights," she said.
After assuming office in 1996, the Prime Minister said her government introduced special assistance programme for minor ethnic people living outside Chittagong Hill Tracts aimed at development of their social, cultural, economic and educational status.
But, the assistance programme faced a serious debacle when BNP came to power in 2001. The Awami League government resumed the programme after taking office in 2009 under which meritorious students belonging to ethnic minority groups are being given scholarship, she said.
The Prime Minister said her government has given attention to improve the condition of the underprivileged people at grassroots level aimed to develop the country economically.
She urged the scholarship recipients to devote themselves to studies to build themselves up as worthy professionals side by side to become good citizens upholding their own culture, tradition and indigenousness. Pointing out her government's initiative for sustainable development of the small minor groups in Chittagong Hill Tracts the Prime Minister said peace has been prevailing in CHT after signing of the peace treaty. Economic activities have got momentum in the CHT which is bringing benefit for the people of the area.
Held with Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Abul Kalam Azad in the chair, the function was addressed, among others, by PMO DG Kabir Bin Anwar.
Ministers, Prime Minister's advisers and senior officials were present on the occasion.









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