Allocation for edn in new budget to increase: PM

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday said allocation for education will increase further in the new national budget to be placed in Parliament today.

"We have been giving the highest importance to education and implementing various programmes for expansion of education, improvement of its quality and making it available to all," she said while addressing a function marking the formal inauguration of Feni Girl's Cadet College at Dharmapur here.

Built at a cost of Tk 15 crore on about 28 acres of land, the college began academic activities in April this year with 100 students as the first batch. The college will, however, accommodate 400 students.

The prime minister unveiled the inaugural plague and offered munajat. She signed the visitors' book and planted a sapling on the cadet college premises.

The inaugural ceremony was also addressed by Defence Secretary and Chairman of Cadet College Governing Council Mahmud Hassan and Feni Girls' Cadet College Principal Faizul Hassan.

"We sincerely believe that 'education is the backbone of a nation.' We also believe that education has no alternative to turn men into true human beings and efficient human resources," Khaleda said.

Referring to her commitment for expansion, improvement and modernisation of education and making it applicable, she said her government's success in this field and also in making the education system free from copying and corruption drew acclamation at home and abroad.

She thanked all the teachers, guardians, students and the civil society who came forward to make success the government's initiatives in this regard.

Later, she inaugurated the newly built Tk 23-crore Feni Computer Institute and 50-bed Chhagalnaiya hospital. She also laid the foundation of Chhagalnaiya fire service and civil defence station.