BRAC University, a renowned private university of the country, today issued a statement clearing its stance over the recent incidents involving part-time teacher Asif Mahtab Utsha and demonstration by some students on the campus. BRAC University said it believes, like all great institutions of higher education, its role should be to create space for all views to be discussed and debated constructively, predicated on tolerance and respect. The university said that it considers any act of vandalism towards national property as unacceptable behavior and does not tolerate or support such activities. Read more: Youth with disabilities deprived of learning, employment scopes: Study “The recent act of tearing pages of a textbook published by the Government of Bangladesh, included in the national curriculum for students enrolled in 7th grade in schools, and asking others to do the same in a public forum, is an act of vandalism, a behavior not supported by BRAC University,” the statement reads. The university said, it therefore, cannot offer a part-time teaching contract to Asif Mahtab Utsha for the Spring 2024 semester. However, the university will compensate him for his time and efforts towards his preparatory work for Spring 2024. BRAC University said it respects and fully complies with the country's constitution and laws on all matters. Accordingly, it does not promote homosexuality as has been alleged by some quarters in various social media content. However, BRAC University said it believes in equal rights and opportunities for every single human being to realize their potential. Read more: Jamaat congratulates dismissed BRACU teacher Asif Mahtab, criticizes govt’s education policy

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said although the government has imposed some austerity measures to save public money amid global crisis due to Coronavirus and Ukraine-Russia War, but it did not compromise on printing free textbooks books for children. “…we did not forget children’s issues, we did not compromise on printing their textbooks, yes, we are trying to save money from other sectors (imposing austerity measures), but we’ve given special attention to printing their (children) books (textbooks),” she said. The Prime Minister came up with the remarks while formally inaugurating the free textbooks distribution programme at her office for 2023. She said due to the Coronavirus and Ukraine- Russia war prices of everything have gone up that forced the government to take some austerity measures in public expenditure, but it did not impose austerity in printing textbooks for children and distributing those on the first day of the new year. She mentioned that the government has defied all obstacles including coronavirus, Ukraine-Russia war and price hike in all commodities. Sheikh Hasina said that to make ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041 the children will be provided with all facilities as they are the driving force in attaining the goal. “We will grow our children in such a way so that they could cope in the coming days which will be technology driven and make them prepared to become skilled manpower for the upcoming fourth Industrial Revolution,” she said. She urged all to give special attention to flourish the hidden talents of children through nourishing their curiosities. “Keeping our eyes towards that we have to build them as worthy citizens of the country for Smart Bangladesh by 2041,” she said. The Prime Minister said that prime aim of the government is to create technically and technologically skilled manpower through providing proper education. “Our full population will be technologically smart, they will not lag behind,” she said. She said if the children of the country can be built up with sincerity then there will be no force in the world that can stop the development and advancement of the country. The Prime Minister said that from the time of Coronavirus outbreak till now, children are studying at homes as the government has taken initiative “my school is in my house” through television.“Academic programmes have been conducted across Bangladesh through Sangsad TV. These have been run through BTV too. I think Sangsad TV can always be used by the Ministry of Education,” she said. She also revealed that the government has a plan to launch a separate terrestrial TV channel for education. Also Read: PM opens distribution of free textbooks Sheikh Hasina said those who came to power after 1975 did not take any measures to free the people of this country from illiteracy. In 1996, Awami League formed government and framed the education commission again, she said.She added that they started implementing a project to increase the literacy rate and learning for aged people was also incorporated in it. She said education is the biggest tool to keep people free from poverty. “So, we took new steps to educate the entire nation and we constituted a new Education Commission.”But, the Awami League government could not implement its 5 years tenure ended before implementation, she added. After BNP-Jamaat came to power in 2001, she said, they pushed the country back into darkness and this is the reality. “In the 2008 election, people voted for boat, we formed the government again. Since then we have again set target how we will free the people of this country from illiteracy and since 2010 we have started distributing free textbooks,” she added. Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md. Zakir Hossen and Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury also spoke at the programme.

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday (December 31, 2022) inaugurated the distribution of free textbooks among students of pre-primary, primary and secondary levels for the academic year 2023. The Prime Minister opened the textbooks distribution programme at a ceremony at her office through handing over books to students of primary and secondary levels this morning. Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Jakir Hossain, Deputy Minister for Primary and Mass Education Barrister Muhibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel were present. Also read: PM opens distribution of free textbooks among students Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education will celebrate “National Textbook Festival” across the country tomorrow (January 01, 2023). The Ministries have taken necessary steps to distribute nearly 33.91 crore new textbooks among 4.09 crore students this year. The Awami League government has so far distributed over 434.45 free textbooks among students up to secondary levels across the country since 2010. Read More: Students of four classes to receive new curriculum books on trial basis: Dipu Moni

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday formally inaugurated the distribution of free textbooks among students up to the secondary level for the academic year of 2022. She opened the textbook distribution, joining a ceremony in the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. On behalf of the Prime Minister, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossen handed over textbooks to some students of primary and secondary levels at the function. Also read:Maintain Covid precautions: PM Hasina Some 347 million copies of textbooks will be distributed among some 41.7 students up to the secondary level from pre-primary level across the country in the 2022 academic year. The textbooks have already been sent to every upazila in the country. Also read:Curb food adulteration with an iron hand: PM Hasina Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury, and Secondary and Higher Education Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain also spoke at the function.