Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and visiting former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday emphasised concerted efforts among the South Asian nations to alleviate poverty and eradicate terrorism from the region.
The two leaders expressed the view when Kumaratunga paid a courtesy call on Hasina at the Prime Ministers Office (PMO), said PMs Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad.
Terming poverty the biggest enemy, they said all the countries need to work more unitedly to free the peoples of the region from poverty.
Hasina briefed Kumaratunga about various development activities taken up in the country for attaining economic emancipation of the people.
She also vowed to work for further strengthening the democracy and parliamentary system in Bangladesh.
The premier listed measures taken up by her government to ensure food security through boosting production as well as expanding social safety net. She expressed her strong commitment for the empowerment of women and protecting human rights of every citizen.
Hasina said her government has formulated a time-befitting education policy and set a target to free the country from illiteracy by 2014.
She said her government is providing free textbooks up to secondary level and formed a Tk 1,000 crore Education Trust Fund to give assistance to the poor and meritorious students.
Ambassador at-Large M Ziauddin, Secretary to the Prime Ministers Office Mollah Waheeduzzaman and PMs Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad and PMs Private Secretary Nazrul Islam Khan were present. - The Daily Star