The government of Bangladesh has made secure moves toward greater equality of opportunity, particular in education of the young children of Bangladesh. This move is partly explained by the fact that the young stand for the greatest–certainly the largest– generation in the country. And the politics of the country will sway in whichever direction the young move. Nevertheless, Sheikh Hasina’s policy move is laudable.
The Daily Star reports:
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Saturday her government will launch a special project to rehabilitate underprivileged children by providing them with necessary education and health facilities.”
“Street, floating and disabled children, as well as orphans and all other economically and socially vulnerable children will be included in the planned project which will function at the upazila and district levels, she told a function at the city’s Osmani Auditorium.”
Reminding the audience that the government is committed to introduce free secondary education for children with needs, the Prime Minister promised that “a trust will be established and poor students will be given scholarships so that they can continue their higher studies free of cost.
Indeed, she reminded that audience that during her previous term in power, she had begun a project that would have gone far to increase the capability of children, while arresting various forms of repression on the young. She regretted that though the Awami League had begun a project to construct community clinics in rural areas, the project was scrapped when the opposition BNP alliance came into power. The Prime Minister suggested that the BNP rejected the policy program with the intention of depriving the AL a resonant legislative legacy.
Whatever the history of child welfare programs, the future is all that matters in the debate for young, growing hearts and the minds. If it moves in the right trajectory the AL will deliver a long standing reputable legacy if it can move to deliver the free education programs that it has promised.