Bangladesh on track despite all obstacles

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said people would tackle the prevailing obstacles with courage and strength like in 1971 and take the country forward in every sphere, including science and technology.

"We are now facing some problems. Children are barred from attending their exams. A clique of evil force in the name of siege and hartal is creating the obstacles.

"But the people have strength and courage to overcome any barrier," she said while addressing a function at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.

Earlier, she distributed this year's Bangabandhu Fellowship, National Science and Technology Fellowship and research donation among the students and researchers at the function.

Hasina, also chief of the ruling Awami League, lamented the criticisms of a vested section against her government, saying, "Those people even criticised us when Bangladesh qualified to play Test matches".

Now Bangladesh is showing its capacity with defeating cricket giant England and sweeping to quarterfinal round. "One day we will surely win the world cup," she said amid applause from the audience after news broke that India lost its third wicket in the quarterfinal match with Bangladesh at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"Bangladesh is going ahead and will go ahead. None will be able to hinder the advancement of the nation," the PM added.

Laying importance on scientific studies, Hasina said, "Science is linked with everything. None can move by ignoring science. A country cannot progress without its development in the area of science and technology."

Congratulating the recipients of the fellowships and donations, she urged them for conducting their research with utmost devotion and responsibility.

"The fellowships and donations are being provided from the taxes of poor people of Bangladesh. So I hope you will ensure maximum utilisation of the public money," she told her audience.

After independence, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had undertaken multipurpose programmes for taking forward the country in science and technology.

Among those, the atomic commission was upgraded, industrial research was strengthened and green revolution was implemented apart from giving importance to agricultural research, Hasina said.

The PM also said her government had given utmost priority to science and technology based education at school level. Subjects related to science and information technology are being included in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools.

She mentioned that the government support to scientific research and studies had already yielded result. Invention of genome sequence of jute by Bangladesh has opened up new opportunities for the jute sector.

"Considering the limited resources of the country, we have to proceed with proper management of the resources along with their economic and sustainable use," Hasina told the function.