Technical education crucial for developed Bangladesh: Milon

"The government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has taken a comprehensive plan to transform the country's huge population into human resources," he said.

The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at the "Commemoration of the Historic July Mass Uprising and Creative Student Award" programme held on the Dhaka Polytechnic Institute premises in the capital this morning, said a press release.

Dr Milon said July is a month that will never fade from the memory of the people of the country.

"The fascist Awami League wanted to destroy the country. But during July and August, our new generation, risking their lives, saved the country from that destruction. In exchange for the sacrifices of hundreds of martyrs, we have regained this Bangladesh anew," he said.

Urging students to move beyond the concept of conventional education, the minister said there is huge global demand for skilled manpower with technical education.

"Our expatriate workers are the main source of foreign currency earnings. If they can be equipped with technical education before being sent abroad, the country's economy will become more prosperous and stronger," he said.

Saying that the government is going to establish four more engineering colleges in the country to modernise and expand technical education, he expressed his determination to develop Dhaka Government Polytechnic Institute into a model institution.

Addressing the students, Milon said the new generation must acquire greater innovative capabilities and work with the commitment to build a beautiful and prosperous Bangladesh in the future.

Chaired by Principal of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute Md Mustafizur Rahman Khan, the programme was attended, among others, by Member of Parliament for Reserved Women's Seat-16 Sanzida Islam Tuli, Director General of the Directorate of Technical Education Abul Khayer Md Akkas Ali and Chairman of the Bangladesh Technical Education Board Engineer Md Ruhul Amin as special guests.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Md Rakibul Islam Rakib addressed the programme as the chief discussant.

After the commemoration programme, the minister handed over honorary crests to the family members of martyr Hamidur Rahman Majumdar (Sadman), a student of Cumilla CCN Polytechnic Institute, and martyr Samid Hossain, a student of Kishoreganj Government Polytechnic Institute, who were killed during the July Mass Uprising.

He also draped ceremonial shawls over the injured students of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute.

Before attending the programme, the education minister joined the Orientation-2026 programme of Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia virtually as the chief guest.

On the occasion, he said, "We want to develop IU into a centre of excellence so that it can become an internationally recognised university in the future. Young people must make proper use of this valuable period of student life and prepare themselves as the architects of tomorrow's Bangladesh."

The orientation programme was chaired by IU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A K M Matinur Rahman, reports BSS.