The government has taken decision to turn state-financed Bangabandhu Fellowship Project into a trust so that no future government can discontinue the fellowship programme dedicated for scientific studies and research, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said.
The PM was addressing a programme of donation cheque distribution among the recipients of post-graduate studies and research under Bangabandhu Fellowship and National Science and Technology (NST) Project at Osmani Memorial Hall in Dhaka on Wednesday, reports BSS.
She said a country cannot progress ignoring scientific research. Bangladesh's food autarky and vegetation round the year were results of research.
Sheikh Hasina said her government after coming to power in 1996 allocated budgetary fund for the first time aimed at giving scholarship to post-graduate students for studies and research in various fields.
But the next BNP-Jamaat government suspended scholarships of many students forcing them to leave their studies in the midway, she said.
"I hope that such situation will not happen again in future. So the government has taken decision to make the government financed project into a trust and accumulate ample fund so that the fellowship programme can be continued even if we were not in power," the prime minister said.
The present government introduced the fellowship project with an objective of creating qualified scientists, technologist and researchers in the country to building a science-friendly digital society and development of scientific research in the country.
This year 50 MS, 160 PhD, 11 post-doctoral students and researchers were given the fellowship for study and research at home and abroad.
