Govt plans to create fund to help poor students: PM

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The government has a plan to create an Education Fund to facilitate poor students with free education in a bid to increase literacy rate as well as to ensure higher education for all.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this while newly appointed Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Bangladesh Sarath Kumara Waregoda paid a courtesy call on her at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Thursday, reports UNB.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister and the High Commissioner discussed matters of bilateral interest and regional development, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said.
While discussing education, the Sri Lankan envoy appraised the Prime Minister of his country's President's Fund that was set up to provide funds for programmes beneficial to a large segment of the population whose poverty and lack of resources do not enable them to access certain specialised facilities in the health and education sector.
In response, the Prime Minister observed that Bangladesh could share Sri Lanka's experience and expertise on education programmes, including the President's Fund, Mr Azad said.
Sheikh Hasina said investment in education is the best investment, as this is the strongest tool to ensure improving the lot of people by eradicating poverty.
"Poverty is the common enemy of the South Asian countries," she said and emphasised on joint efforts of all South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member countries to remove poverty from the region.
On terrorism and violence, the Prime Minister reiterated her government's strong stand against all types of terrorism and her government's vow to establish peace for all.
As the issues of Chittagong Hill Tracts came up in the discussion, she mentioned the success of her last government in establishing peace in the hilly region through political means by signing the peace accord.
The Prime Minister also recalled her meetings with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on various occasions.