PM for boosting research, science, tech studies for dev

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government has attached utmost importance to education, research and scientific and technological studies to achieve the particular goals of country's development.

"We have a target to make Bangladesh a middle income country by 2021 through eradicating poverty and a developed one by 2041. If we want to make it true we mostly need to increase the use of technology, boost up research and scientific practice in everyday life," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while distributing Bangabandhu Fellowship, National Science and Technology (NST) Fellowship and research donations among the students and researchers for 2016-2017 sessions at a function as Osmani Memorial hall in city on Thursday, reports BSS.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has already given importance on studies on bio-technological science, medical science, environmental science, engineering and applied science, physical science and food production.

"Today Bangladesh has become a self-reliant country in food production as her government extended all support for diversification of food production and inventing new technologies of producing food grains, vegetable and other food items," she said.

Minister for Science and Technology Yafez Osman presided over the function while chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Science and Technology Dr Ruhal Haq spoke among others on the occasion while secretary of the ministry Sirajul Haque Khan gave welcome address.

This year a total of 1,702 students were given the Bangabandhu Fellowship, NST Fellowship and research donations for their post graduate studies in science and technology at home and abroad.

The Prime Minister also urged the teachers and guardians and people of all sections of the society to guide their children to bar them from becoming radicalized and spoil their lives through involving them with militancy, terrorism and drug.

Sheikh Hasina said the government has disbursed Taka 37.51 crore among 5,901 students for M Phil, Phd, and post-doctorial studies from 2009-2010 to 2015-2016 fiscal years. This year, she said Taka 9.91 crore would be given to 1,702 students.

The prime minister said ministry of science and technology has introduced "Research Allowance" as incentive for research students. From 2009 and 2016 fiscal the ministry has distributed Taka 68.93 crore through 1,753 projects under the incentive programme, she said adding this year a total of Taka 11.57 crore would be given under 350 projects.