100 Dhaka, Sylhet students graduate from US Embassy’s microscholarship programme

The US embassy in Dhaka on Wednesday hosted a graduation ceremony for 100 students, from Dhaka and Sylhet, who have successfully completed the US government-funded English Access Microscholarship Programme, said a press release.

"You are the leaders of tomorrow that Bangladesh needs today. Your English, leadership and critical thinking skills are crucial to your community and country," US Ambassador in Dhaka Peter Haas told the graduating students—50 male and 50 female, at the ceremony.

The Access programme was administered by the Global Educators Initiative for Sustainable Transformation (GEIST) International Foundation, a Bangladesh-based non-profit organisation, founded by alumni of US government exchange programmes.

This graduating batch joins around 100,000 other alumni of the same programme in more than 85 countries around the world, said the release. 

The English Access Microscholarship Programme, funded by the US Department of State, is a rigorous, two-year interactive programme building a foundation in English language, American culture, critical thinking and leadership skills for students, aged 13 to 17, who come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.  

The programme helps students become more competitive for higher education and employment opportunities.

The Access programme is one of the US Embassy's many endeavours to strengthen and expand people-to-people ties and educational linkages between the US and Bangladesh, enhance the quality of education locally and empower Bangladeshi youth through innovative learning opportunities.

A total of 1,300 Bangladeshi students have successfully completed the programme since it began in 2004, according to the media release.