Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced plans to provide women with free education up to the honours (undergraduate) level. He said the country’s overall development would not be possible if women were left behind in education. Alongside expanding opportunities for higher education, the government will also arrange scholarships for female students who achieve good academic results.
He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon at Mirzapur Chairman Barighat area in Pakundia upazila of Kishoreganj during a programme marking National Fisheries Fortnight 2026. The programme included releasing fish fry into the Old Brahmaputra River, distributing fish fry among local fishermen and exchanging greetings with local residents.
The prime minister said BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia had introduced free education for girls up to the intermediate level when she was in charge of running the country. Women make up nearly half of the country’s population, he said, adding that Bangladesh could not move forward by leaving such a large section of the population behind in education.
“That is why the current government has taken the initiative to provide free education to women up to the honours level,” he said.
Addressing the female students present at the programme, Tarique Rahman said, “There are many sisters and daughters here. You have to study attentively and do your best so that you can take the responsibility of leading the country when you grow up.”
He also announced that the government would provide scholarships to female students who achieve good results in their studies.
Speaking about primary school students, the prime minister said the government planned to provide one school uniform every year to children from poor families studying at thousands of primary schools across rural Bangladesh. In addition to uniforms, around 12 million children would be provided with school bags.
He said the government wanted to ensure that, alongside new textbooks every year, school bags and uniforms were also delivered to children at their homes.
On empowering women, Tarique Rahman said it was not enough to advance women only in education; they also needed to be made economically self-reliant. Referring to commitments made before the election, he said family cards would gradually be distributed to women who head their households or manage their families.
“The work on the Family Card has already begun, by the grace of Allah,” he said. “Over the next five years, the card will gradually be delivered to every household across the country.” As part of the initiative, the Family Card programme was being launched in Kishoreganj district, he added.
Regarding the release of fish fry, the prime minister said the fish released into the river would grow, reproduce and eventually spread into canals, wetlands and other water bodies. As a result, the people of Bangladesh would benefit from the initiative.
“The people of London or Japan will not benefit from these fish. The people of Bangladesh will,” he said, stressing the importance of increasing domestic fish production and protecting rivers, canals and other water bodies.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid, Fisheries and Livestock State Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Kishoreganj District BNP President and State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam, as well as local fishermen and prominent community members, attended the programme.
Earlier, when the prime minister arrived at the Mirzapur Chairman Barighat area, local party leaders, activists and residents welcomed him. He later released fish fry into the Old Brahmaputra River and distributed fish fry among local fishermen.