BSS, Dhaka :As many as 6,000 first-year students of Dhaka University are likely to get loan to buy laptop at low interest rate as the government is actively considering providing such loan under an education scheme. Education Secretary Md Nazrul Islam Khan ( N I Khan), who is trying to provide laptop loan to the students of different universities during the last three years, discussed the matter during a meeting with Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Dr A A M S Arefin Siddique and Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman on October 27 at the VC’s office, official sources said.They said, they have agreed in principal to start credit programme with a minimum interest rate at Dhaka University for the 6,000 first-year students to buy laptop aiming to acquire ICT driven knowledge.The education secretary has assured of becoming guarantor against the loan to be provided under credit programme by the bank, said a source present in the meeting. “This is very good initiative of education ministry to introduce laptop buying loan at different universities and Dhaka University is very keen to introduce such loan in the interest of using laptop for education purposes,” said Dr Arefin Siddiqui. He said, the DU has 6,000 students in the first-year and if they were provided with loan to buy laptop at low interest rate, the students could get an opportunity to play their role in establishing a knowledge-based society.”I seek support from the Education Ministry and Bangladesh Bank to introduce the loan at DU under a education scheme so that students can get loan with low interest rate to buy laptop,” Dr. Arefin said.According to a source, Dr. Atiur Rahman has shown interest to introduce refinance scheme in the bank under an education scheme to provide laptop loan at 9 per cent interest rate.When contacted N I Khan said I have been trying for the last three years to introduce laptop loan for the students and have had meetings with the Managing Directors of different banks.”If we make it successful by introducing laptop loan at Dhaka Universities that would usher a new hope to our journey towards implementation of knowledge-based society,” he said.N I Khan said ” This is good news for us that Trust Bank has come forward to provide such loan to buy laptop and we are discussing with Managing Director of the bank to introduce such loan at DU.” “I will be the guarantor if required to provide loan to the students,” he said.
