Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Samanta Lal Sen, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming the country into ‘Smart Bangladesh’. “Smart Bangladesh, announced by our Honourable Prime Minister, is a promise to transform the country. To achieve this goal, we must groom smart children whose knowledge, intelligence, and innovative skills will bring ‘Vision 2041’ to life,” said Dr. Sen.

He made these remarks as the chief guest at a seminar on ‘Early Child Development Programme in Bangladesh,’ organized by icddr,b at their Sasakawa Auditorium in Mohakhali, Dhaka this morning.

The Health Minister praised the contributions of icddr,b, an international medical research institute, to the country's healthcare system. “icddr,b has been pivotal in research, training, project implementation, and experience sharing in collaboration with various development organizations, research, and academic institutions worldwide. The Government of Bangladesh, alongside icddr,b’s Child Development Unit and development partners, is working to accelerate early child development,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of primary healthcare, Dr. Sen said, “If we can improve upazila and district community clinics and hospitals, patients will receive proper treatment locally, reducing the patient influx in Dhaka. We must work for the benefit of the common man. icddr,b is proof of that, commendably providing medical services in villages.”

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Emphasizing the significance of proper child development, he said, “Our country will move forward if we can enhance our children’s development,” he added.