The Board of Executive Directors of World Bank
(WB) has approved US$300 million to help Bangladesh recover from learning
losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The support will also introduce complementary online learning blended with
in-class education to build system resilience, improve learning outcomes and
teaching quality and reduce the dropout rate in secondary education.
"Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in education over the years and was
among the first few developing countries to achieve gender parity in lower
secondary school. But, the prolonged school closure during the COVID-19
pandemic has had a profoundly negative impact on learning and forced many
poor girls to leave school," said Abdoulaye Seck, WB country director for
Bangladesh and Bhutan.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin today asked all pro-Liberation forces to remain alert against the anti-independence quarters so that they cannot come to power in any way.
"Stay alert so that no anti-Liberation force can come to power," the President told the opening ceremony of the "Sixth National Conference" of the "Sector Commanders Forum - Liberation War 71" at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here.
Shahabuddin, also a valiant freedom fighter, added: "I believe we will all move forward unitedly and we have to work together... to oppose those who are plotting against Bangladesh independence and its ongoing progress."
State Minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam today said the government is not worried about the US Visa restriction as Washington started imposing it on Bangladeshi individuals responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the country democratic election process.
“We have nothing to lose, we are not worried about it because we are not doing anything wrong,” he told reporters at a briefing at his residence in Gulshan tonight hours after the US state department came up with the announcement.
He, however, called the development “not a pleasing experience” but added “we have to go through it”.
The United States Department of States today
said it is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi
individuals responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic
election process in Bangladesh.
"These individuals include members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and
the political opposition," said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller
in a statement today.
He said the US is committed to supporting free and fair elections in
Bangladesh that are carried out in a peaceful manner.