Programme worth Tk 41,090 crore approved to ensure quality education, says Dr Zahed

Emphasising the importance of maintaining the quality of education, Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, adviser to the prime minister on information and broadcasting, said state or government certificates should mainly be for those who can ensure the quality of education. The government is taking various initiatives to improve the quality of education, and as part of that, the fifth Primary Education Development Programme has been approved at a cost of Tk 41,090 crore.

He said this at a press conference held on Tuesday on the progress of various activities of the government. The prime minister's adviser also presented the progress of various ministries of the government at the press conference.

Dr Zahed said the government is looking at the matter of maintaining the quality of education with importance. The issue of education quality also came up in discussion in the recently held HSC examinations. The fifth Primary Education Development Programme has been approved to ensure quality primary education. Its total cost will be Tk 41,090 crore, of which the government will provide Tk 33,000 crore and the remaining Tk 7,887 crore will come from foreign financing.

On food procurement, Zahed Ur Rahman said a target has been set to procure five lakh metric tonnes of parboiled rice and two lakh tonnes of atap rice in the 2026 fiscal year. The procurement price is Tk 49 per kg for parboiled rice and Tk 39 for atap rice. The procurement drive will run from November 14 to February 28. He also claimed that more food has been procured this time than at any previous time in Bangladesh's history.

He said that to ensure food security, under the food-friendly programme, 50 lakh rural poor families are being given 30 kg of rice per month at Tk 15 per kg. In addition, nutrition-rich fortified rice is being distributed in 300 upazilas of the country.

On the labour unrest in garment factories, the prime minister's adviser said there was some instability and movement in the garment sector. Although the workers' movement was justified, there were also various opportunists within it. A minimum wage board was formed on November 1, and a meeting of the board has also been held. The prime minister herself has said she hopes the matter of fixing a new minimum wage will be completed by December.

Highlighting the importance of low-income people's contribution to the country's economy, he said even the contribution of the ultra-poor has a major impact on the economy. Rickshaw pullers, farmers, security guards and expatriate workers are each contributing to the country's economy.

On overseas employment, Zahed Ur Rahman said progress has been made in implementing the commitment to send 10,000 workers to Malaysia free of cost through the state recruiting agency BOESL. As many as 300 candidates have already been selected initially, and work is under way to implement the initiative of sending workers to Malaysia without any cost.

The adviser said four more important contract packages have been signed for the Metro Rail Line-1 project to ease traffic congestion in the capital and modernise the public transport system. He said the government is working to reduce people's travel time and build a modern, safe and environment-friendly public transport system.

In addition, a project has been taken up to expand and develop the facilities of Mongla, the country's second largest seaport, to increase its capacity. On November 5, the prime minister laid the foundation stone of the project at Jetty No. 9 of the port. Increasing the port's capacity is essential for expanding international trade and logistics activities.

Highlighting the initiative to establish sports and cultural activities as professions, Zahed Ur Rahman said the first edition of a programme to discover children's sports talent was successfully completed on November 5 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre. Through it, talented children have been identified, and initiatives are being taken to train them into regional-level athletes and cultural workers.

He said the prime minister expects people to be able to take up sports and cultural activities as careers. People sing, paint or play sports as hobbies, and the government wants these creative activities to be established as professions and sources of income. The government is also encouraging the economic evaluation of creative activities and creating opportunities to earn from them.

Presenting the government's activities on environmental protection, the adviser said regular drives are being conducted against violations of environmental law. Last week, 92 cases were filed, fines of Tk 49,21,200 were collected, service connections of 10 institutions were disconnected, and compensation of Tk 1,44,80,000 was imposed on various institutions.

On the fisheries and livestock sector, he said measures are being taken to stop illegal fishing, and fish fry release activities are also continuing. On the law and order situation, he said law enforcement agencies are performing their duties regularly, and the arrest of criminals and the recovery of arms and drugs are continuing.