“Many rich people are now getting social safety allowance but 46 percent poor are deprived of the allowance. We hope all poor of the country would come under any social safety programme by 2025,” he said at a webinar titled “Right to health and education: The impact of Covid-19 and challenges to implement SDGs.”

The virtual event was organised by Development Journalist Forum of Bangladesh (DJFB) in association with Bread for the World and Action for Social Development (ASD).

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Alam, also a recipient of the Ekushey Padak (2020), said that there is a huge waste in social safety programme in the country.

“We recommended increasing 4 percent education expenditure from existing 2.6 percent in the 8th Five Year Plan. Actually it should be increased to 6 percent as per international standards. Besides, we suggested increasing 2 percent from existing 1.6 in health expenditure in the plan,” he also said.

He added that although there is no class inequality, but there is regional inequality in Bangladesh. There are regional disparities include health care, poverty and education. These were included in the plan.

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“I urge journalists to observe these that how many proposals are reflected in the upcoming budget,” he also added.

Dr Shamsul Alam mentioned only 13 percent students at primary level are proficient in mathematics. Maybe, it’ll be same in Bangla subject too. “These are not desirable.”

“The Education Commission was told to ensure universal education for all. We have many victories, successes, achievements; but we haven’t yet achieved universality in education. All people have to be brought under education,” he also said.

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Dr Shamsul added that about 18-19 percent children are falling in the primary school. This is a great waste of human resources. “This waste must be stopped.”

Research Director at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) Dr Mahfuz Kabir read out a keynote paper while Executive Director of ASD Jamil H Chowdhury presided over the function.