Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reaffirmed her commitment to equipping children with modern technology knowledge and ensuring they keep pace with the rapidly advancing world. Speaking at an awards ceremony for the national essay and drawing competitions, held in honor of the 99th to 104th birth anniversaries of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she emphasized the importance of technological literacy.
The event, organized by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum, occurred at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Ganabhaban, on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Hasina highlighted her government’s vision to transform Bangladesh into a Smart Nation by 2041. Already digitizing the country in line with their 2008 electoral pledge, her administration is now establishing computer labs in schools nationwide and creating computer training and incubation centers.
These training centers offer specialized computer and digital technology courses to spread technological education. The Prime Minister addressed the children and youth as future leaders of Smart Bangladesh, urging them to contribute to the country’s transformation.
Education has remained a top priority for her government since she assumed power in 1996. They have enacted laws and rules to protect children and provide educational opportunities. Free textbooks are distributed from pre-primary to secondary school levels, along with scholarships and stipends. Higher education scholarships are also available.
Under her government’s initiatives, the literacy rate has risen to 76.8 percent, a significant increase from the 45 percent recorded in 2006.
In addition to universities at the district level, Bangladesh now boasts medical, digital, agriculture, design, fashion, aerospace, aviation, and science and technology universities, diversifying the education system.
The Prime Minister also established the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust, providing scholarships to deserving students and assisting those in need.
She concluded by emphasizing the historical significance of the museum, which she and her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, transformed into the house of Bangabandhu—the leader of the Liberation War.
