Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon on Tuesday said the government has taken an initiative to distribute bicycles to secondary schoolgirls across the country to encourage female education.

“An initiative has been undertaken to provide bicycles to encourage girls’ education at the secondary level, alongside providing a tablet to each of the 116,000 students who achieved a GPA-5, as a means of encouragement,” he said.

He made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) Day held at the university auditorium.

The Minister said, “The government spends approximately Tk 10.75 lakh on each student. Therefore, the focus must be not only on building infrastructure but also on ensuring the proper return on this investment.”

He said as part of the government’s broader plans, the Prime Minister wants to raise the current allocation for education from 3.4 percent to 5 percent in the national budget.

Stressing the need for technology-oriented education, Milon called for introducing courses related to electric vehicles (EV) alongside traditional mechanical and electrical engineering.

He also mentioned the need to launch modern subjects like artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics at the university level, while expressing frustration over a stalled application to introduce an AI course at the University Grants Commission (UGC) for two years.

The Minister also questioned the rationale behind opening new departments at the university saying, “The necessity of launching departments such as ‘Building Engineering and Construction Management’ alongside Civil Engineering, and ‘Urban and Regional Planning’ alongside Architecture, should be reviewed beforehand.”

“For disciplines like Leather Engineering, laboratory facilities and existing specialized institutions in the country must also be taken into consideration,” he added.

Regarding the delays in teacher recruitment he said, “The appointment of approximately 4,500 teachers is currently stalled due to complications at the Ministry of Education.”

“Discussions are underway to swiftly resolve these issues and ensure the appointments,” he also said.

He said in 2003, during the tenure of the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, four BITs were simultaneously transformed into universities, while he was working with her as the State Minister for Education.

“The initiative was undertaken because the highest priority was being accorded to education,” he added.

KUET Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr. Mohammad Mashud presided over the program, while Parliament Whip Rakibul Islam Bakul, MP, was present as a special guest.

Every year, September 1 is observed as KUET Day or University Day, commemorating the institution’s upgrade from a BIT to a full-fledged engineering and technology university on this day in 2003.

To mark the day, the university organized various programs, including the hoisting of national and university flags, colorful rallies, project exhibitions, open lab sessions, sports competitions, discussion meetings, prayers, and cultural events.