Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon stated that the core of Bangladesh's future development rests on its education sector. He emphasized that maximizing educational investment is essential to developing human resources, enhancing international competitiveness, and transforming the population into a national asset.
The Minister was speaking as the chief guest at a graduation dinner and cultural program held at the Shaheed Yamin Auditorium of the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) in Mirpur on Wednesday night.
Dr. Milon highlighted that the education sector received the highest priority in the current fiscal budget. The allocation for the Ministry of Education has risen to Tk 1,23,000 crore, up from Tk 88,000 crore in the previous fiscal year.
"Our ministry is the largest in the government. This year, we have been granted a budget of Tk 1,23,000 crore," the Minister said, clarifying that unlike last year, funding for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and the ICT Ministry was not bundled into this figure. He added that the government plans to increase educational allocations incrementally in the coming years.
Reflecting on the country’s potential, the Minister remarked, "Bangladesh is a beautiful nation with vast resources. We should not be lagging behind. Our only bottleneck has been the education sector. If we can reform and develop this area, Bangladesh will confidently excel in global competitions."
He described the nation's youth as its greatest strength, noting that a large population should be channeled as a blessing rather than a burden. To build a highly skilled workforce, he placed particular emphasis on expanding technical and vocational education.
Sharing personal reflections on his political career, Dr. Milon mentioned that he renounced his US citizenship ahead of the 1996 national elections to return home and serve the country. He later went on to serve as the State Minister for Education.
"I returned to serve my country, not to indulge in corruption. I did not renounce my US citizenship for corrupt means," he asserted.
Looking forward, the Education Minister expressed optimism about establishing Bangladesh as a premier regional center for higher studies and a "cross-border education hub." He noted that several top-tier global universities have expressed keen interest in establishing academic operations within the country.
