Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government is committed to sustaining the recognition as a developing country by expanding education, and having an upskilled workforce, worthy citizens.

"Bangladesh today is a developing country. We have to maintain that recognition, and for this we need to expand education, and have skilled workforce, worthy citizens," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating a programme of giving away stipends, tuition fees, admission assistance, and treatment grants among disadvantaged and meritorious students from PM's Education Assistance Trust at the Ministry of Education.

She joined the programme virtually from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

"To ensure a poverty-free Bangladesh, education is needed most. Like the Father of the Nation, we do not consider expenditure in the education sector as expense; we consider it an investment for the future generation," she said.

The Prime Minister said that the government is setting up various types of universities across the country, considering the demand of the contemporary world.

In this connection, she mentioned that the government has established Maritime University and Aviation University.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of the historic March 7.

The prime minister placed wreaths at the portrait of the Father of the Nation in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi in the capital at 7:00am.

She first laid a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu as the prime minister. After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of independence.

At that time, the younger daughter of Bangabandhu, Sheikh Rehana, joined the prime minister.

Munajat was offered seeking the eternal peace of the great leader, his martyred family members, and millions of martyrs who made their supreme sacrifice for the country.

On this day in 1971, Bangabandhu through his fiery and soulful address made a clarion call to the people to fight against the Pakistani rulers to achieve long-cherished independence.

Before a rally of a million of freedom-loving people at the then Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) on March 7 in 1971, Bangabandhu firmly declared, "the struggle this time is for our freedom, the struggle this time is for our independence".

Bhutan Premier Dr Lotay Tshering today arrived in Dhaka to a red-carpet welcome by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Bhutanese PM is the fourth among world leaders to arrive in Dhaka on a three-day official visit to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh's independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A VVIP aircraft of Bhutan's national carrier Druk Air carrying Prime Minister Tshering and other entourage members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HISA) around 9:30am.

Prime Minister Hasina welcomed her Bhutanese counterpart at the VVIP tarmac of the airport with a flower bouquet. The visiting leader was subsequently given a tri-services guard of honour at the airport.

Several Ministers, State Ministers, and high-ranking civil and military high officials were also present at the airport.

From the airport, the visiting premier headed to the National Memorial in Savar to pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh.

At the National Memorial, Tshering signed the visitors' book and planted a sapling next to the one he planted on April 12, 2019.

He is also slated to visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi no 32 to pay tributes to the Father of the nation. A visit to BIMSTEC Secretary General's residence for a meeting is also on his itinerary.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will call on him at the Presidential Suite in the hotel.

In the evening, the Bhutanese PM will attend a cultural programme and a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Hasina in his honor.

On Wednesday, Lotay Tshering is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Hasina at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), where both the leaders are scheduled to hold talks.

After the talks, a couple of MOUs are likely to be signed between Bangladesh and Bhutan to enhance the cooperation between the two countries.

The Bhutanese Prime Minister will also pay a courtesy call on Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.

Later in the afternoon on Wednesday, Tshering will join the celebrations at National Parade Square as the guest of honour, where Prime Minister Hasina will receive him.