UNB, Dhaka :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday asked the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) to form a team with local engineers and expert professionals for designing and constructing the country’s big structures like bridges and tunnels.
She also stressed the importance of utilising the expertise of Bangladesh professionals instead of depending on foreign engineers and experts as the local experts understand better the country, its people and its weather pattern.
“We need to change the mindset of depending on foreigners and foreign aids as the country’s dignity must be upheld by standing on our own feet,”
the Prime Minister said while formally inaugurating the 55th Convention of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) at the IEB Bhaban premises.
The theme of this year’s convention of the most prestigious and oldest organization of professionals in Bangladesh is: ‘Engineers for Development: Towards a Safer Environment’.
Nearly 5,000 engineers from home and abroad are participating in the five-day long convention that began on Thursday.
Referring to the Padma Bridge construction, the Prime Minister mentioned that there was a political game over it and her government has completed all works to begin the construction of its main part with the country’s own resources overcoming all the obstacles.
Underscoring the need for making the country’s engineering education a world-class one to keep pace with the present globalisation, Hasina assured of providing all sorts of cooperation and support from her government to make engineering profession and education a time-befitting one and take it forward.
The Prime Minister mentioned that the engineers have a very important role in development and production activities as they are involved in constructing roads, bridges, culverts, educational institutions, houses, mills and factories as well as other establishments of the country.
Besides, he said, they are also contributing towards the country through their service-oriented works like generation and distribution of power and energy and water supply.
In this regard, Hasina voiced her firm optimism that the country would move towards progress and prosperity in a faster way with the sincerity and effective application of engineers’ expertise.
Elaborating various steps of her government taken for the welfare of the engineers, Sheikh Hasina said about 10-bigha land and Tk five crore had been given for their institution during 1996-2001 while Tk 23 crore more was provided during at the fag end of her last government.
