PM urges children to follow the ideals of Bangabandhu

She also urged the children to always keep them free from any link with terrorism, militancy, drug addiction and other social crimes and build them as worthy citizens of the country to take the nation's future leadership.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing a child rally and cultural function marking the 94th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children's Day on the mazar premises of Bangabandhu Sheikh mujibur Rahman.

The Prime Minister said, "We want to build a nation where no child like Russell would brutally be killed, no children would pass their night in the street and every children would have access to food, shelter and education."

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and Gopalganj district administration jointly arranged the function.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki attended the function as the special guest, while Shahriar Alam Mahin, a student of Gopalganj SM Model Academy, spoke on the occasion.

The function was presided over by Lubaina Rubab Safa, a class two student of Gopalganj Maleka Academy.

Ministers, parliament members, chiefs of three services and high civil and military officials and a huge number of children and their parents and guardians were present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister urged the countrymen to dedicate themselves to the welfare of the children and build a best future generation in merit and thinking.

"Let us come to dedicate our present to the welfare of the children and build a developed and prosperous country for the future generation by implementing the Vision 2021 and the Vision 2041," she said.

Sheikh Hasina also called upon the children to build Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu being imbued with the great leader's ideals.

"I want that you would contain the ideology of the Father of the Nation, show respect to the seniors and help the poor and distressed children. You would see while reading the biography of Bangabandhu that how he helped the distressed children," she said.

The Prime Minister said children were very beloved and affectionate of Bangbandhu. He presented an independent country for you where you will love, play and grow up as worthy citizens.

She said: "Bangabandhu is not alive among us. My little brother Russel is not alive. The killers on that day did not spare him. I always find Russel among you."

Mentioning that the children are the main base of building any nation, Sheikh Hasina said the goal of her government is to ensure a safe and beautiful abode for the children.

"We want to build a peaceful and prosperous Bangladesh for all and we want that no children will spend life without food and they will not remain illiterate," she said.

"We want that no children have to sacrifice their life like my little brother Russel and we want that children will be groomed as worthy citizens," she added.

She said Bangabandhu had enacted the Child Act in 1974 to ensure welfare of the children. "He also made the primary education free for the children," she said.

"I hope that you would know the words of the countrymen and the history of the War of Liberation and freedom fighter," she said.

Terming the children as the future leaders of the nation, Sheikh Hasina also called on the children to give more attention to studies and materialise the dream of Bangabndhu by building Sonar Bangla.

The Prime Minister said the Father of the Nation has sacrificed his life for the world humanity "There is a history of struggle, realizing rights for the people and establishing truth, justice and peace in every fold of his life and works," she said.

She urged the children to remain alert so that the disabled and autistic children do not become victims of negligence.

"The happiness comes in exchange for sacrifice not enjoyment. So you will have to being imbued with the ideals of Bangabandhu," she said.

Listing various steps for the development and welfare of the children, Sheikh Hasina said her previous government framed the national child policy in 2011 and took steps to stop physical and mental torture as well as disparity of the children.

She said the government has also introduced pre- primary education for the children and provided necessary sports materials side by side with entertainment.

Reiterating her government's firm commitment to ensure education for cent percent children, the Prime Minister said: "We have set a target for upgrading primary education to class eight and making education free and mandatory up to class eight," she said.

Later, Sheikh Hasina distributed awards among the winners of different competitions organized on the occasion of Bangabandhu's 94th birth anniversary. She also witnessed a cultural programme
performed by schoolchildren.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated a book fair on the mazar complex.