BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday said their party wants to create a discrimination-free environment to rebuild the education system and promote research to prevent brain drain.

“We want to build the education sector in such a way that both education and research can progress, and there will be no discrimination,” he said at a dialogue.

The BNP leader, however, said teachers, students and student organisations must work together to create such an environment.

'Tarunner Rastrochinta Platform' arranged the dialogue titled 'Education and Educational Arena' at the Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh.

Salahuddin, a BNP Standing Committee member, said politicians, teachers and students all have important roles in building the nation.

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“Just like politicians, teachers also have a responsibility to build the country. But support is also needed from general students and their organisations. These three factors together can help build the state.”

The BNP leader also said if the country can ensure a better environment for quality research, talented students who go abroad for higher studies will be encouraged to return home after completing their education. “Brain drain will decrease, and talented people will choose to stay in the country.”

Salahuddin Ahmed said many talented people leave the country and never come back. “Because in recent years, an environment has developed where talented people do not feel interested to return to the country.”

In contrast, countries like China and India have benefited from their skilled people returning home with knowledge from developed countries. “They have not stayed abroad, and their countries are now becoming some of the best in the world in technology. But that is not happening here.”

Vice-Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Prof Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, Senior Assistant Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Fayez Ahmed, BNP Media Cell Convener Maudud Alamgir Pavel, and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir, among others, were present.

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Students from different institutions also took part in the dialogue and shared their questions and opinions on education. The guests answered their queries, and prizes were given to the three best questioners.