Reception of Dr. Achyuta Samanta & Meet the Civil Society
Date : March 06, 2014
Time : 6.00 pm
Venue : BICC, Agargaon, Dhaka
His Excellency Mr. Pankaj Saran, Honorable High Commissioner of India, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, a globally acknowledged social entrepreneur and founder of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) & Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), India and Mr. Md. Sabur Khan, founder of Daffodil International University (DIU), Bangladesh, distinguished invitees, media personals-Ladies and Gentlemen, a very good evening to you all. I am very happy to be a part of this occasion on the affiliation between Daffodil International University (DIU) and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS). I am very glad to know that DIU is going to set up an institution in Bangladesh in partnership with KISS, the largest residential institute for the tribals in the world, for sharing and exchanging education for disadvantaged people.
Ladies and Gentlemen, you all know that
Ø In this era of globalization, sharing and exchanging knowledge plays a significant role in bringing the world together by creating an environment of cultural understanding that exposes participants to new ways of thinking and new approaches to life.
Ø Dr. Achyuta Samanta, the wonder of Odisha who has successfully established the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology University (KIIT University)-a world class university all by himself with very little in his pocket. He is now considered as a man of success who has lost his father at the age of four and severely experienced the pain of poverty at his early life. But, nothing could stop him to achieve highest academic degrees and to accomplish his dream of education for all. His experience let him feel that poverty is the biggest obstacle on the way of children’ physical, psychological as well as educational developments. Therefore, he dreamed of a world where poverty would not stand as a hindrance to one's education. In his effort's he created a slice of heaven on earth, christened it as KISS, for twenty thousand neglected and underprivileged ethnic children living beyond our so-called 'civilized' world.
Ø Learning from the experiences of KISS in providing accommodation, food, health care and education from Kindergarten to Post Graduation, vocational training and all other basic amenities of life absolutely free. It also provides with a job after completion of education. This endeavor of DIU will be an enormous opportunity for Bangladesh’s disadvantaged people in Bangladesh as well.
Ø A win-win situation can be created by increasing the mutual understanding between the two nations through sharing knowledge. Our future generation can also reap the fruit of international culture to cope up with the competitive world.
Ø International learning and knowledge propels students towards acceptance and understanding of an array of different cultural and community perspectives. It also enhances the awareness and adoption of alternative, multi-faceted approaches to learning.
Ø Bangladesh Bank (BB), as the regulator of the financial sector, is guiding the commercial banks in providing necessary support to poor, underprivileged, meritorious and rural background students under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. Already a few commercial banks have introduced a number of schemes to help the most deserving students at the secondary and higher secondary levels of their studies. Some facts:
Ø As per the Review of CSR Activities of Financial Sector of Bangladesh Bank (August 2013), education sector (32.29%) got the highest proportion of total CSR expenditure in 2012. As per latest data, about 16.98% and 20.79% of the expenditure were for scholarship to poor and meritorious female and male students respectively. Of this 4.45% grant went for physically challenged students and other 57.70% for purchasing books and clothing, etc.
Ø Bangladesh Bank has recently provided about 4.25 crore Taka to nine institutions for social and humanitarian development from its own CSR fund.
With a stronger focus on sustainable human development, equity and inclusive growth; education should be at the center of the international development agenda. A corresponding enhancement is required in the competences of educators, leaders and decision makers at all levels of education. Hence, such an affiliation between DIU & KISS can result in a comprehensive change in ensuring literacy for all including various ethnic groups as well as bringing people from all walks of life under a unified umbrella of education and also contribute to the global movement led by UNESCO named “Education for All” which aims to meet the learning needs of all children, youth and adults by 2015. This particular program will also help strengthen the organic relationship between the two neighboring countries and lift the bondage to a new height. I am indeed happy to His Excellency the High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh for participating in this culturally strategic program. Also my heartfelt appreciation for Dr. Achyuta Samanta, founder of KISS for choosing Bangladesh as one of his institute’s preferred destination. By thanking the event organizer for inviting me as the “Guest of Honor” of such an amazing affiliation program, I would like to conclude here.
Thank you for patient hearing.
Dr. Atiur Rahman, Governor, Bangladesh Bank
Source: A.F.M. Asaduzzaman, General Manager Governor's Secretariat, Bangladesh Bank
