Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged researchers to conduct studies to diversify Bangladesh’s export products alongside modernising and mechanising the agriculture sector.
“Research is essential if we want to increase our export items. I hope you all will pay special attention so that our export continues (to thrive) with diversified products,” she said.
The Prime Minister this while addressing a function arranged to distribute Bangabandhu Science and Technology Fellowship, National Science and Technology (NST) Fellowship and special research donations among teachers, scientists and researchers of different universities and research institutes.
She joined the function held at the city’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium, virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
On behalf of the Prime Minister, Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman distributed the fellowships and research donations among them for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
Sheikh Hasina laid emphasis on making the research and development wing of every industrial factory effective and stronger.
She said the government is setting up 100 special economic zones across the country, where research is essential. “Because we can reduce (production) cost, improve the standard, produce quality goods and diversify export products without depending on one or two items. So, boost export through research,” said the Prime Minister.
In that case, she said, digital devices can be new items in the export basket saying that now it is ‘Digital Bangladesh’ and it can do whatever necessary in this regard.
Noting that Bangladesh’s economy is largely dependent on agriculture, she stressed the need for research for accelerating modernisation and mechinisation of the sector.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is a country of huge population but it attained food autarky using its small arable lands.
“Keeping it (scarcity of land) in mind, we’ll have to strengthen our research so that we can build the country as ‘Sonar Bangladesh’ (Golden Bengal) as dreamt by the Father of the Nation,” she said.
Bangladesh’s progress unstoppable
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is marching forward and no one will be able to halt the progress of the country. “When Coronavirus couldn’t halt it (the progress), no one will be able to do so anymore. It’s my belief,” she added.
Noting that Bangladesh has already sent Bangabandhu Satellite-1 into orbit, she said broadband internet connectivity is being set up throughout the country now. “We’ll move forward using sciences,” she said.
Focus on human welfare
Pointing at the scientists and researchers, Sheikh Hasina urged them to work for human welfare. “Continue your research works paying attention so that your study can be effective for the welfare of people,” she added.
The Awami League government has relentlessly been working giving priority to education, health and social safety sectors since 2009. “We’ve been giving the highest allocation and implementing massive development programmes in education and research,” she said.
Noting that the government has been giving importance to multidimensional education in order to create skilled human resources, she said 18 new public universities have been established in the country since 2009.
The government formed science and technology clubs in 490 upazilas and 90 Union Parishad with a view to making science and technology popular in the country.
Novo theatre in every divisional city
The Prime Minister said the government will construct a Novo theatre (Planetarium) in every divisional city as done in Dhaka. “We’ll construct Bangabandhu Novo Theatres (Planetariums) in all divisional cities,” she added, reports UNB.
