Zia family suffered highest repression in Bangladesh: Milon

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon said on Wednesday that the Zia family had faced the highest level of persecution and repression in the history of Bangladesh.

"We lost President Ziaur Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko. Our national leader Begum Khaleda Zia faced the worst levels of torture," he said.

The minister made the remarks while addressing a programme as chief guest at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University.

Recalling his academic and professional journey, Milon said that after graduating from Dhaka University, he went abroad to pursue an MBA in International Marketing rather than entering the teaching profession.

After gaining corporate experience in the United States, he returned to Bangladesh and entered politics. He said he applied strategic marketing principles to his election campaign and subsequently won a parliamentary seat.

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Recalling his doctoral research, Milon said that after serving as state minister for education, he initially began research on higher education. However, then BNP acting chairman, now Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, suggested that he shift the focus to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), which he said reflected the country's needs.

Referring to Malaysia's experience, Milon said former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad invested heavily in sending students abroad and later encouraged them to return through programmes aimed at reversing brain drain. He said the initiative helped transform Malaysia into a global education hub.

Milon said the present government has given the highest priority to the education sector.

Addressing university students, he urged them to aspire to global standards and return home after acquiring knowledge and skills abroad.

"You must aim to be the best globally. Talent knows no boundaries or visa barriers-if you are qualified, the whole world is open to you. But my earnest request is that after acquiring knowledge, you must return home to serve your motherland," he said.

DU Vice-Chancellor Prof ABM Obaidul Islam, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof Almujaddade Alfashane and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Prof Abdus Salam, among others, attended the programme.