Educational institutions not opening now: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday ruled out the possibility of opening educational institutions right now, saying that students are the future of the country and the government does not want to put them at risk.
"Maybe we cannot open the educational institutions, because we want to advance step by step so that students are not infected with coronavirus," she said.
"If we can overcome this situation, we'll open the educational institutions gradually," Hasina added.
She was addressing while publishing the results of SSC and equivalent examinations at the Gono Bhaban via video conference. Education Minister Dipu Moni and chairmen of different education boards joined the video conference from the education ministry.
Earlier in the day, Dipu Moni, on behalf of the PM, received the results from the chairmen.
Describing the present situation as a crisis for the whole world, Hasina asked all to be self-confident. "Self-confidence is the biggest thing. Whatever the situation is, we have to face that."
The PM said the country already faced a cyclone amid this coronavirus outbreak.
"We'll face all crises, including cyclone, with confidence, and we'll work together as we're doing right now," she said.
Hasina said the country will be able to overcome the coronavirus pandemic by working together. "That's the goal and that's the decision of the government."
Regarding the relaxing of the shutdown, the PM said everything had been closed for a long time. "Other countries are opening their wheels of economy in phases," she pointed out.
In this connection, Hasina briefly talked about various stimulus packages and food and monetary assistance of the government for the people's welfare.
She said the government in 19 packages allotted some Tk 103,117 crore, which is 3.7 percent of the GDP. "I do not know any country in the world announced such huge amount (of its GDP) as stimulus packages."
The PM said the government included all poor, destitute, and jobless people under its monetary and food assistance programmes.
"Politics is for the people, and its main aim is to reduce the people's sufferings," she said.
'EDUCATION TOP PRIORITY'
Hasina said the government gives the highest priority to education as it knows that to build a hunger-and-poverty-free Bangladesh, there is no alternative to an educated nation.
"If the light of education does not enter every house of the country, it won't be possible to eliminate poverty from the country," she said.
In this connection, she mentioned that the government has formulated the education policy.
The PM said students of the country are very much brilliant and they can prove themselves if they get chances.
She asked the students to build themselves as the country's worthy citizens imbued with patriotism and humanity, and the government is providing all necessary support in this regard.
Dipu Moni handed over a summary of the results of SSC and equivalent exams to Hasina online from her secretariat office. Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury was present on the occasion.
PM's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus and PMO Secretary Tofazzal Hossain Mian were present at the Gono Bhaban, while Secretary of Secondary and Higher Secondary Division Mahbub Hossain moderated the results handing ceremony at the education ministry.