BNP Acting Secretary General and Prime Minister's Political Adviser Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday said the country's education system had been crippled and undermined over the past 17 years, weakening the backbone of the nation.

"A system was deliberately developed to keep Bangladesh behind in international competition in information technology and overall progress," he said.

Rizvi made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the 'SSC Meritorious Students Reception-2026' organized by South Keraniganj Thana BNP at the ground of Keraniganj Women's Degree College this afternoon.

Referring to education as the backbone of a nation, Rizvi said that over the past 17 years, "that backbone has been turned into a plastic backbone."

He alleged that there had been incidents in which students were allowed to pass examinations on instructions from higher authorities without sitting for the exams or merely by writing the questions in their answer scripts.

"Neither individuals nor the nation benefit from forcibly awarding higher marks or ensuring passes in this way," he said.

Stressing the need to improve the quality of education on the basis of merit in the era of technology, Rizvi said poor academic results and students falling behind in university admission tests were not isolated incidents.

"Rather, these are the outcomes of treating the entire education system as a matter of play," he said.

He said that in the current context, students were getting results based on merit, describing the practice as extremely important for the nation.

Reiterating BNP's commitment to promoting women's education, the BNP acting secretary general said education was the main condition for women's empowerment.

He said former Prime Minister and late BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia had introduced free education up to the intermediate level for female students.

"BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has announced that in the future, female students will not have to bear educational expenses up to BA and BA Honours levels, as education will be completely free," he said.

Rizvi also highlighted the importance of responsible leadership in society and local communities.

Dhaka District BNP General Secretary Nipun Roy Chowdhury, MP, who presided over the programme, told the students that their achievement marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

"With honesty, responsibility and patriotism, you have to become the helmsmen of tomorrow's Bangladesh," he said.

At the programme, newly announced SSC GPA-5 achievers from Dhaka-3 constituency were presented with commemorative mementos, crests and scholarship money.

Local BNP and its affiliated organizations' leaders and activists, civil society representatives, teachers, meritorious students and guardians attended the reception.