HSC Results Would Have Been Better, Had BNP-Jamaat Not Unleashed Suicidal Acts: PM

"It is regretful that the BNP-Jamaat clique was engaged in heinous crimes like burning people to death and torching and vandalising public and private property by calling hartals and blockades during the SSC and HSC examinations," she said.

"Had they not unleashed such suicidal acts during the exam period, the overall results of this year's HSC and equivalent examinations would have been much better," she added.

The Prime Minister came up with this observation after Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid handed over the results of the HSC and equivalent examinations under 10 education boards to the Prime Minister at her official Ganobhaban residence here this morning.

Education Secretary Nazrul Islam Khan conducted the function, while PMO Secretary Suraiya Begum, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim, senior officials of the education ministry and chairmen of the 10 education boards were present.

Citing the non-stop hartals and blockades of the BNP-Jamaat during the SSC and HSC exams, the Prime Minister said there was a big problem ongoing in Bangladesh at that time.

"That was human-created problem. The BNP-Jamaat was enforcing hartal before the start of that examinations. But they added blockades to it (hartals) when the examinations began. Then they launched burning the people to death by torching vehicles in the name of so-called movement," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said it was a conspiracy of those who want to save war criminals and choke the path of education and stop the country's development and advancement.

"It was a plot of those who inflicted torture on the people, committed corruption and laundered money abroad when they were in state power," she said.

The Prime Minister noted that holding and participating in examinations at that adverse situation were very painful and risky. "But our boys and girls appeared and became successful in the exams defying all these obstacles....this is a big achievement," she said, congratulating all successful students.

Sheikh Hasina also congratulated all concerned including teachers, as well as officials and employees of the education boards and the law enforcers for holding the examinations in a peaceful manner.

The Prime Minister hoped that those who were not succeeded in this year's HSC examinations would be successful next time by pursuing study better.

Spelling out her government's steps for the development of the education sector, the Prime Minister said the aim of her government is to build Bangladesh as a poverty and hunger-free country as dreamt by Bangabandhu.

"Our also goal is to make children interested in learning lessons, ensure standard of education and build an educated society," she said, adding no nation can prosper without education.

That's why, she said, her government has been giving stipends to the students up to degree level and distributing free textbooks up to secondary level.

Sheikh Hasina said after coming to power in 1996, her government put importance on expansion of science and technology-based education.

During the time, she said, her government undertook steps to establish 12 specialised universities in the country and some of them began their academic activities at that time.

"To establish a poverty-free country, there is no alternative to creating an educated, skilled and efficient generation," she opined, adding that the children must be equipped with science and technology based modern education to keep pace with the world.
Sheikh Hasina said keeping in mind the reality of agriculture-based Bangladesh's economy, emphasis must be given also to the education on agriculture alongside developing workforce for industry-based economy.

In this regard, she mentioned that her government has been developing special economic zones across the country where huge number of educated and skilled manpower would be required.

Later through videoconferencing, the Prime Minister talked to public representatives, teachers, students, and officials who were present at the offices of Pabna and Pirojepur Deputy Commissioners.

She said Bangladesh emerged as an independent country under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Prime Minister said Bangabandhu dreamt of building Sonar Bangla by freeing the country from the curse of hunger and poverty and bringing smiles on the faces of the commoners.

"We are striving to make the country's independence meaningful and establish Bangladesh as a dignified nation on the world stage to materialise his dream," she said, seeking cooperation of all to achieve the goal.

While talking about the trial of war criminals, Sheikh Hasina mentioned their trial is going on and the verdicts are being executed to free the nation from the stigma.

The Prime Minister said it was Bangabandhu who started the trial of war criminals for their crimes against humanity during the War of Liberation in 1971.

"But after Bangabandhu's assassination, military dictator Ziaur Rahman stopped the trial by proclaiming martial law ordinance. He also released the killers and rapist from the jail and put them in the state power," she said.