FROM UN MEDIA CENTRE:  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday urged world leaders at United Nations general meeting to put emphasis on education rather than firearms.

She added: “Let’s ensure quality education.”

The world leaders also expressed their positive views on quality education.

They also preferred education to armaments terming Sheikh Hasina ‘a role model for the development of female education in Bangladesh.’

Malala Yousuf Zai’s ‘inflammatory speech’ at the forum also drew attention of world leaders.

“Woman should be independent; she should not be dependent on parents or husband. This attitude should be changed and girls should be aware about their rights through education,” she added.

Extending her support to Malala, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said women without education are facing crisis in real life.

She also mentioned five major challenges for development of the education sector such as economic strength, infrastructural development, modern curriculum, digital discrimination between information technology education and technical education. She also explained how Bangladesh is dealing with those.

A good number of rights activists, singers and leaders came up with their observations at a function of the Economic and Social Council Chamber (ECOSOC) in the UN headquarters.


In another function held marking the anniversary of Global Education Initiative, Sheikh Hasina said that the world is spending billions of dollars every year on armament but not funding that amount for education. She also highlighted on ensuring education for every child all over the world by 2015.

She also accentuated and focused about the recent funding of education in Bangladesh.

A good budget was fixed for the purpose in our country, she added.

The program was organized to mark the first anniversary of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s Global Education First Initiative.

Congratulating the UN secretary general for the initiative, the prime minister said Ban’s ideas to “put every child to school”, “improve the quality of education”, and “foster global partnership for education” are inspirational.

Hasina said Bangladesh is honored to be one of the “Champion States” of this initiative.

The former president of UK, Gordon Brown, South Africa Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu, the President of Croatia Ivo Josipović, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova and South African millionaire Aliko Danagot were also present there.

Malala indicated Sheikh Hasina as her inspiration and Hasina blessed and kissed her after the conference.

BDST: 1300 HRS, SEP 26, 2013
MMK/AIA/RS/BSK- [email protected]