Staff Correspondent

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said no one could pull Bangladesh back again if children of the country are given the opportunity to flourish their talent.

"If we give the opportunity to develop the talent of our children, no one can take this country back again," she said while addressing the opening ceremony of the distribution of stipends, tuition fees and awards among insolvent and meritorious students at her office.

Sheikh Hasina mentioned that her government has given stipends to increase research and innovation, saying "Our children are very much meritorious and the stipend, given to the students to develop their talent, would contribute to our socioeconomic development." "We are putting the highest emphasis on it," she added.

The Prime Minister said Bangabandhu creative talent search is a great initiative for the flourish of talent from where a good number of talented children are being nurtured.

"Today, our children have got the opportunity to flourish their talent and now their innovative power is being bloomed," she said, adding "None can take the country back, pull the country into darkness."

Sheikh Hasina asked the students to groom themselves properly to take the country forward, further raising their heads with self-dignity on the world stage, not bowing down to anyone.

"We'll have to keep in mind that we'll take the country forward. Inshallah, this Bangladesh and Bengali nation will move forward, raising their heads in the world arena with self-dignity and self-esteem. We'll not bow down our heads to anyone. It is our promise," she said.

Pointing at the students, the Premier asked them to always keep in mind that this country is a victorious nation in the Liberation War and they didn't bow their heads down to anyone. "Today, Bangladesh is a role model for development. So, we also show the path. Our meritorious children will take the country forward this way," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the country will be built as a smart Bangladesh by 2041. Smart people, smart government, smart economy and smart society would be there in the country, she said.

Noting that today is the age of science, technology and research, she asked the students to prepare themselves to move ahead, keeping pace with the constantly changing world.

Mentioning that Bangladesh gained enough success in agricultural research, she stressed the need to give more importance to medical science research now.

"We're moving forward in all sectors. But, our research is lagging behind to some extent in one area and that is the health sector. We're putting importance to medical science research... I think it needs to give more importance to the sector," she said.