PM urges scouts to prepare themselves for giving leadership

"I firmly believe that you would be groomed as worthy citizens by containing the great motto of scouting in all spheres of life and being enlightened with the light of education," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the Ninth Bangladesh and the First SAARC National Scout Organizations (SNSO) Scout Jamboree at the National Scout Training Centre here this morning.

Chairman of Bangladesh Scouts Md Abdul Karim, Chief National Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts Md Abul Kalam Azad, chairman of the Jamboree Organizing Committee Hedayetullah Al Mamun also spoke on the occasion.

The Prime Minister opened the jamboree by releasing pigeons and balloons. She also witnessed a colourful display of the scouts on Bangladesh's culture and War of Liberation. She later visited the tent area.

As many as 9000 scouts from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan are participating in the weeklong jamboree. Sheikh Hasina said the role of the scouts movement is very crucial to build children, juveniles and youths as honest, virtuous, self- confident and ideal citizens.

"Bangladesh Scouts has been acclaimed enormously for their immense contribution to this end," she said.

Mentioning that this year's theme of the jamboree--- "Scouting for Peace and Harmony"--- as time-befitting and encouraging, she said the main mantra of the scout is "always ready". "I hope that the scouts will remain always ready for development, peace and harmony being baptised with this mantra," she said.

The Prime Minister said the members of the Scouts have been working ceaselessly to encounter all natural disasters of the country. "Your activities during cyclone, flood and in serving the cold-hit people have been praised by the people," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the members of the scouts also work for tree plantation, sanitation, health education, EPI Programme and awareness about environment. "It is my expectation that you would gear up and expand your service-oriented activities as ideal scouts," she said.

The Prime Minister said the present world is advancing relying on information technology (IT). "So you will have to take preparation from now to face the challenges of the IT and you will have to build yourselves befitting to modern world," she said.

The Prime Minister said the aim of her government is to turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021 by eliminating hunger and poverty.

"So, you will have to come forward to join the struggle of building a prosperous Bangladesh as you will give leadership to the country in future. You will have to prepare yourselves in mixing of education, merit, thinking and honesty and to be inspired with patriotism," she said.

Talking about the health and power camps held across the country from 2009- 2013, Sheikh Hasina said she took part in these programmes with the scouts through videoconferencing.

"I believe that you are demonstrating more efficiency in health-related programmes and making effective contribution to save electricity," she said.

Stressing the need for saving electricity, the Prime Minister directed the health ministry and the power division to arrange regular power camps and health camps by taking assistance of Bangladesh Scouts.

She assured that her government would provide all possible assistances to strengthen the scout's movement. "I think Bangladesh Scouts has been making significant contributions to create a developed and skilled manpower. So we would continue our support and assistance in creating a skilled manpower through scouting," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said she has already directed the authorities concerned to turn the National Scouts Training Centre into an international level training complex. "Bangladesh Scouts is working in cooperation with the government to this end," she said.

Sheikh Hasina urged the scout leaders to take a separate project for development of the training centre.

The Prime Minister also requested all concerned to build efficient management by constructing scout building in all districts and constitute at least two scout groups each at all educational institutions.

She said the number of scout members in Bangladesh is 13 lakh which is not significant in comparison with the population. "So I call on the scout leaders to increase the number by keeping intact the quality of the scouts," she said.

Extending her sincere thanks to Bangladesh Scout for increasing the number of girl members in scouting, she said the number will have to be raised further.

Welcoming the scouts from the SAARC countries, Sheikh Hasina said she is grateful to all the SAARC nations for giving Bangladesh an opportunity to arrange the First SAARC National Scout Organizations Jamboree.