Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked the scholars to apply the education and knowledge gained abroad considering the local realities while implementing development plans to make them pro-people and sustainable.

"You'll have to know, understand and feel the country first. Some knowledge can be acquired from it. If you implement development plans coordinating between the knowledge acquired from natural environment and the knowledge obtained from the higher education, the development will be sustainable, pro-people,” she said.

“Thus the country can march forward.”

The premier said this while awarding the Prime Minister's Fellowship-2023-24 at a programme at Shapla Hall in her office for pursuing master’s and PhD degrees in the world's reputed universities.

As many as 48 scholars - 38 master’s fellows and 10 PhD fellows– from different sectors received the fellowship to pursue their higher studies in the world's top-ranking universities abroad including the USA, UK, Australia and Canada.

Hasina said the government has been able to develop Bangladesh immensely by working accordingly in the last 14 years.

"We've been able to bring change in every sector," she said.

Pointing to the young generation particularly the fellows, the PM asked to utilize the scope of flourishing their knowledge in the age of science and technology.

She asked the fellows to apply their own intelligence and thoughts not depending on foreign models for the development of the country,

"There would be no model of others in the development of our country….. We shall see, know others and thus acquire knowledge. But we'll have to use own talents and thoughts in practical cases or in case of considering which one is essential for us," she said.

In this regard, Hasina stressed the need for considering the geographic position, climate, mindset of people, their overall condition and natural resources of the country while preparing development plans.

Describing the intelligent people as the torchbearers of the country, the Prime Minister said, "I think that the talented people shall show the paths of light applying their knowledge generations after generations."

She asked fellows to contribute to the welfare of the people and the country on their return to home after pursuing higher studies abroad spending the public money.

"Keep in mind what you will do for the welfare of the country and its people by using the knowledge acquired from foreign higher education," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has attached topmost priority on education following the footsteps of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as no nation can prosper and develop without education.

The PM said her government has made education multidimensional by setting up different types of universities like science and technologies ones, maritime, aviation and aerospace and agricultural ones.

She said the AL government put importance to science and research and it gained a huge success in agricultural research in the country, which helped to attain food autarky.

The Prime Minister, however, said medical science research is still not sufficient in number. “We need more research in medical science,” she said.

She reiterated firm conviction to build the country as developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041. "None can stop the indomitable pace of the country's development," she said.

The Prime Minister's Fellowship was introduced in 2018 with a view to improving the knowledge and capacity of the civil service, academia, and the qualified citizens of the country.

Since the commencement of the fellowship programme, some 239 master’s fellows and 98 PhD fellows have so far been abroad to pursue their higher studies in the global reputed universities.

To claim the scholarship for PhD, applicants first must secure, by their own capacity, admission to one of the 100 highest-ranking universities around the world.

In case of claiming the fellowship for master’s degree, an applicant must obtain, by their own capacity, administration to one of the 200 top-ranking universities around the globe.

Once the admission is confirmed, only then one can apply for the scholarship under the Governance Innovation Unit (GIU) of the prime minister’s office.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain and PM's Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah also spoke on the occasion.

GIU Director General Dr Mohammad Abdul Latif delivered the welcome speech.

Two fellows -Shibly Islam and Afifa Anjuman- as well as Deputy Secretary of Internal Resources Division AM Alamgir Kabir who already pursued PhD obtaining this scholarship, spoke on this occasion sharing their feelings.