Fifty-seven diploma engineers were honoured yesterday with national award for scoring outstanding results in the Diploma-inEngineering Examination-2006.

Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) gave the award on 17 trades, including civil, electrical and mechanical engineering as well as computer science at a ceremony at the IDEB auditorium in the city.

Vice-Chancellor of National University Prof Wakil Ahmed was the chief guest on the occasion and distributed awards among the diploma engineers.

Chief Editor and Managing Director of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury and Director General of the Department of Technical Education Prof M Abul Basher were special guests. IDEB President Rafiqul Islam Bhuiyan chaired the function.

Addressing the function, Prof Wakil Ahmed said lack of infrastructure facilities and skilled teachers has long been a major obstacle towards ensuring quality education in the country.

"There is no alternative to turning the vast population into human resources to keep pace in the competitive global village," he said and asked the diploma engineers to achieve high excellence in morality and also in technical know-how to benefit the nation.

Welcoming the meritorious diploma engineers, Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury said 'inferior complexity' should not exist in their minds as former Indian Prime Minister Deva Gouda was also a diploma engineer.

"There's a huge scope for the diploma engineers to work in the fields like water, food and environment side by side with other key areas in the Saarc regions," he added.