Bangladesh would be nation of educated people: HPM Sheikh Hasina

"We are striving to build a poverty free country, for which an educated nation is very much indispensable," she said this while receiving the results of this year's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams of 2016 at a function at her Gonobhaban residence here today.

The prime minister said no boys and girls would remain without education in the country. Bangabandhu aspired for building a happy and prosperous Bangladesh, which he could not realize due to conspiracy. "But, we will build his dreaming country," she said.

Sheikh Hasina hoped that students would keep them free from militancy and drugs to build themselves as worthy citizens and contribute to build Bangladesh as a prosperous nation.

"You will remain free from influences of militancy as well as from all drugs to build up yourself and build up the country," the prime minister said.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid along with chairmen of all education boards formally handed over the copies of the results to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Education Secretary Sohrab Hossain and senior officials of the education ministry and the education boards were present.

Nahid will later officially announce the results at a press conference at the Secretariat at 1pm which will open for students at 2pm.

This year's exams were held between April 3 and June 22.

As per the ministry's announcement the results were published within 60 days of the examination as it has been done every year.

Apart from the educational institutions, the results will be available from the web link www.educationboardresults.gov.bd.

Nahid said a total of 12,03,640 students from 8,345 educational institutions took exams this year from eight education boards, one madrasa and one technical education boards, out of which 8,99,150 students became successful.

This year pass rate is 74.70 percent which was 69.60 percent last year.

This year 58,276 students secured GPA-5, Nahid said adding zero pass rate was recorded in 25 educational institution, 10 less than last year.

Congratulating the students and all others related to education and examinations, the prime minister said in global perspective the students of Bangladesh is not less bright than the children of other countries. They have already proved their worth of their brilliance at global arena.

Sheikh Hasina said for the first time the country has got an education policy in 2010 during the tenure of her government which has attached importance on technological and vocational education.

Highlighting the steps taken for development of education, the prime minister said the government promotes primary education as well as technical and vocational education.

The government has also taken steps to bring every child of remote areas in schools. In view of this, she said the government has undertaken a plan to build residential schools in the hilly and haor areas and specialized institutions at different areas of the country.

Later, the prime minister talked to the successful students, teachers, officials, local representatives and distinguished persons of Sunamganj and Cox's Bazar district through video conference.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol