National
PM Sheikh Hasina Launches Digital Stipend Distribution for Students
Today, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the stipend and tuition fee distribution for insolvent and meritorious students ranging from secondary to graduate levels, under the Prime Minister’s Education Assistance Trust (PMEAT). The ceremony was held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
The prime minister announced that the funds would be directly transferred to the beneficiaries through a digital system. “I am very happy to disburse the money of stipends and tuition fees among the meritorious students through a digital platform,” she said.
Over Tk 2,208 crore will be distributed to more than 6.47 million students at the secondary, higher secondary, graduate, and equivalent levels.
In addition to the stipends, the prime minister awarded the Bangabandhu Creative Talent Search Award-2024 to 15 students and the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Scholar Award-2023 to 21 students. Each recipient of the Bangabandhu Creative Talent Search Award received a certificate and Tk 2 lakh, while each Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Scholar Award recipient received a certificate and Tk 3 lakh.
Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, PM’s Education and Cultural Affairs Adviser Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, State Minister for Education Begum Shamsun Naher, and Education Secretary Suleman Khan also spoke at the event.
Three students, Nusrat Jahan Maliha from Hazaribagh Girls’ School and College, Atifa Rahman from Amena-Baki Residential Model School and College in Dinajpur, and Pinak Mugdha Das from Government Majid Memorial City College in Khulna, shared their experiences on behalf of the Bangabandhu Creative Talent Search Award-2024 recipients. Additionally, Dhaka University students Zarin Tasneem Raisa and Al Foysal Bin Kashem Kanon spoke on behalf of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Scholar Award-2023 recipients.
This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to supporting the education of underprivileged and high-achieving students across the country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the National Primary Education Week-2024 today, emphasizing a renewed commitment to ensuring quality education for children. The event took place at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium, where the prime minister served as the chief guest.
During the ceremony, Sheikh Hasina distributed the Primary Education Medal-2023 to 126 stakeholders in recognition of their contributions to primary education. The awards were presented in 18 categories, with 36 students, 15 individuals, and three organizations receiving medals directly from the prime minister.
The theme for this year’s Primary Education Week is “Shishu Bandhov Prathomik Shikkha, Smart Bangladesher Deekkha,” underscoring the importance of child-friendly primary education as a foundation for a smart Bangladesh.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Rumana Ali and Secretary Farid Ahmed also addressed the audience at the event. Additionally, a video documentary showcasing the development of primary and mass education across the country was screened.
A two-hour downpour this morning brought much-needed relief from the oppressive heat but also caused significant disruption for commuters in Dhaka.
The rain, which began around 9:30 am and continued until 11:30 am, led to flooding in several areas, including Malibagh, Moghbazar, Shantinagar, Farmgate, Badda, Mirpur, and Khilkhet. Office-goers and residents found themselves wading through ankle-deep water to reach their destinations.
While the rainfall provided a respite from the heat, it also highlighted the city’s drainage problems as people struggled to navigate the waterlogged streets. Many were seen battling the flooded roads, underscoring the ongoing issues with Dhaka’s infrastructure.
The sky had been overcast since early morning, and the rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, helped alleviate the stifling heat that had gripped the city for the past few days.
Four death row convicts were recaptured this morning (26 June), just hours after escaping from Bogura Central Jail late last night.
The convicts managed to break out by scaling a wall through a breach in the roof. They were apprehended in the vicinity of the jail this morning, Jailer Mohammad Faridur Rahman informed the media.
District Additional Superintendent of Police Snigdha Akhtar stated, “The issue is very sensitive. The district superintendent of police will announce the details in this regard at a later time.”
Following the escape, coordinated efforts by jail police and district police led to the convicts being detained in the Chashi Bazar area of Bogura Sadar upazila.
District Superintendent of Police Sudip Kumar Chakraborty confirmed that the four convicts were involved in a murder case. The escapees were identified as Nazrul, 68, from Kurigram; Amir Hamza, 41, from Narsingdi; Abdul Mannan, 34, and Farid Sheikh, 30, both from Bogura.
