PM urges youths to be self- dependent

Urging the youths to engage themselves with productive activities, the Prime Minister said, youths are main force for building a hunger, poverty and illiteracy free secular modern Bangladesh. She hoped that youths would groom up with high moral values and always follow the spirit of honesty, patriotism and humanity and devote them for building a prosperous nation. Sheikh Hasina urged all to remain conscious so that none can exploit the youths in political or personal interest or any evil purpose. Extending her thanks to the youths received National Youth Award 2013, the Prime Minister said, they are earning more than Taka one lakh a month, which is not possible even going abroad. "Their activities are exemplary to others and I hope that they would continue their work for development of their occupation, imbue other unemployed youths to find their self employment and development of poor rural people," she added.

The Prime Minister said her government every time when came to power has given priority to development of the youths. "In 1996, the Awami League government has expanded the activities of the department of youths at district and upazila levels,constructing infrastructure facilities and taking various credit and training programmes," she said. Sheikh Hasina said her government renovated the youth development training centre in Savar during its previous tenure and introduced training programmes in 50 trades. At that time,the government established Karmasangsthan Bank and started giving collateral free loan up to Taka 50,000 to youths for their self employment. "In this tenure, the ceiling of the credit now has been raised to Taka one lakh," she said adding the present government has implemented massive programmes for employment and development of youths in 64 districts and 476 upazilas.

Sheikh Hasina expressed her utter disappointment over derailment of a section of youths and their addiction to drugs. However, she said, youths are not solely responsible for this."It's the duty of the parents to keep their children on right path," she said. "Youths should be given ample idea about our heritage, national history, hundred years' old traditional family ties and moral values," she said adding a conscious youth can never be spoiled.

This year 15 youths got the national youth award in different categories. State minister for youth and sports Ahad Ali Sarkar presided over the function while chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry of youth and sports Zahid Ahsan Russell and secretary of the ministry Nur Mohammad and director general of the department of youth Asit Kumar Mukutmoni and award recipients Mohiuddin Ahmed and Sabira Sultana spoke, among others.