Meghalaya for better ties with Bangladesh on education

Shillong, Jul 9 (UNI) Chief Minister Donkupar Roy today said the education sector in Meghalaya would stand to gain with improved ties with Bangladesh.

''Shillong with its educational centres provides excellent opportunities to students from Bangladesh for further studies, instead of going to far off countries and other Indian states,'' Dr Roy said.

The chief minister was speaking at the platinum jubilee celebrations of Jail Road Boys' School here.

Jail Road Boys' School had a humble beginning in a hut in 1913 as an 'infant' or primary school and was later turned into a 'middle' school in 1922. The high school was due to celebrate its platinum jubilee years back but delayed its celebration for lack of funds.

He informed that many students from Bangladesh were already studying here, adding, the number could be increased with better ties with Bangladesh.

The state education policy, which was in a formative stage, he said, would help in bettering the education sector of Meghalaya once implemented.

Dr Roy informed that he was in touch with other northeastern states to go on an official trip to Dhaka to improve bilateral relations with that country.

''Hopefully, the trip would be undertaken sometime in September if things move smoothly,'' he said.

The chief minister, who has been a staunch advocate of improving ties with Bangladesh, even went to the extent of stating that an enhanced trade link with the neighbour was a better option than the much-talked about India's 'Look East Policy'.

''Economic links with neighbouring Bangladesh need to be put on the fast track for overall development of the state,'' Dr Roy said.

He said friendly trade links with the neighbouring nation would be restored as in the past when border hats (weekly markets) were thriving business centres for residents of border areas of both nations.

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