(BSS) - Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon has said the key to the future development of Bangladesh lies in the education sector.

Milon said there is no alternative to investing in education sector aiming to develop the country`s human resources, gain international competitiveness and turn its population into resources.

The education minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a cultural programme and graduation dinner held at Shaheed Yamin Auditorium of the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) in city`s Mirpur area on Wednesday night.

He said "Our country is a state of such vast resources. Why should we lag behind? We are lagging behind in one area - education sector. If we can develop the education sector, Bangladesh will definitely move ahead in the global competition."

According to him the country`s youth is its biggest strength and laid special emphasis on technical and vocational education to develop skilled human resources.

Dr Milon also mentioned saying upon returning to the country, he relinquished his US citizenship to participate in the 1996 elections and later, he served as the State Minister for Education.
"I returned home to serve the country, not for corruption. I did not give up my US citizenship for corruption," he said.

The education minister further said there is a huge potential to develop Bangladesh as a regional center of higher education or `cross-border education hub`.

Many high-quality universities of the world are interested in conducting activities in Bangladesh, he said.

Milon said: "We can create an education hub like Malaysia. Renowned universities of the world want to come to our country. We have to utilise this opportunity."

He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working to bring massive changes in the country`s education sector following the education-thoughts of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

A total of 549 graduates participated in the programme. Of them, 155 were military students and 394 were civilian students.

Teachers, students, graduates and invited guests of MIST were also present at the programme.