TBM Staff - Mumbai Bangladesh State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam on Sunday called for a visa-free travel facility for students in the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) countries, as the country plans to become illiteracy-free by 2041.
“Let us open up the doors of the countries for students,” he said while addressing the valedictory session of the two-day ‘Natural Allies in Development and Interdependence’ Conclave in India, reports The Print.
“I am not talking about government centers or scholarship programmes. I am talking about the private sector, too,” Shamsul Alam added.
The renowned economist also stated that the country will become “hunger-free” by 2041.
He suggested that the South Asia region could have a visa-free regime like the European Union, where no visa is required to visit a country that is part of the block.
“Let us allow the students to go freely for education as well as for tourism. We can start with the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) countries.”
Bangladesh has around 50 public and 108 private universities. Its literacy rate has increased to 73% from 43% in 2005-06, while life expectancy has risen to 75 years from 65 years a decade ago, he noted. (Source: The Print)
