PM wants public universities to be self-reliant

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday called upon the authorities of public universities to take initiatives so that they could implement their development programmes on their own.

The Prime Minister said this when the newly-elected executive committee of Chittagong University Officers’ Association met her at her office.

Hasina said her government would extend all-out assistance for the overall development of the university. But the authorities will have to take initiatives to raise its own funds through various means like donations from the affluent section of society and alumni associations, she added.

After the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters.

He said Sheikh Hasina laid emphasis on maintaining the natural beauty of the campus and protecting the environment while carrying out infrastructural development works of the hillside university.

The Prime Minister asked the university authorities to construct more dormitories for the officers and employees to ease their perennial accommodation problems.

Hasina directed the authorities concerned to introduce BRTC bus services on different routes in line with the timing of educational institutions for the convenient of its thousands of students.

The Prime Minister heard various problems of the university and assured the delegation of resolving their problems, and said she would discuss the issues with the teachers separately.

Highlighting various steps taken for the development of the education sector, Hasina said her government is distributing free textbooks up to secondary level, providing stipends and giving midday meals, aiming to check dropout.

Besides, she said, the government has also set up an Education Assistant Trust Fund for the poor and meritorious students to help them continue their study up to degree level.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Chittagong University Vice Chancellor Prof Md Anwarul Azim Arif were present.