President for taking firm steps against juvenile gangs’ crimes

President M Abdul Hamid  yesterday asked the youths  of the country to take firm steps against different crimes, including those  committed by juvenile gangs. “Nowadays, we often through different media come to know about the news of  different criminal activities, including offences committed by juvenile  gangs. It is ruining the future of many youths having an adverse impact on  society. The youths should take firm steps in this regard,” he told a  function here  yesterday. Virtually inaugurating the “National Youth Day-2021” programme at the  Osmani Auditorium from Bangabhaban here, the President said the youths should  be fully involved in productive activities for the greater interest of the  country and its people.

Addressing the youths, President Hamid said, “Youths should remain well  along with all people of the country, only not for themselves.”  He also advised parents and guardians to take care of their children’s  education as well as prevent them from engaging in criminal activities.  Referring to the immense potential of the country’s youths, the President  said that in order to make the country a happy and prosperous one within  2041, the youths should play a leading role in taking the country’s status  towards the desired goal.

“There is no substitute for continued development to take the country to  the desired goal. . . And the youths will play a leading role in this  regard,” he expected.     The President called upon the youths to devote themselves to complete the  unfinished works of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to  fulfil his dream to build a prosperous Bangladesh free from hunger and  poverty.

Realizing the potentials as well as the challenges facing the youths, Abdul  Hamid said poverty, illiteracy, lack of employment; crime and violence cause  chaos and instability in society.    He said that development activities of the youths should be taken forward  by ensuring transparency and accountability in all the activities, proper use  of information technology (IT) and proper utilization of available public- private opportunities.   The President put emphasis on developing the youths with immense  potentials as well-educated and science-minded citizens.  Lauding the courageous activities of youths during different tough times  in history, starting from the country’s freedom struggle, even on the eve of  pandemic COVOD-19 outbreak recently, the President said the youths played an  important role in every stage of the national crisis.

“The enthusiasm and courage of the youth show us the dream of the future. I  believe that their vision and interest in bringing about positive change in  the society would empower others and lead the country on the path of progress  and development,” Hamid added.      Mentioning that Bangladesh is now irresistible in its development journey,  he said, “The involvement of our huge youth (one-third of the country’s  population is youth – more than five crore) is essential to sustain the trend  of sustainable development by facing the devastating pandemic COVID-19  (Coronavirus).”     He also thanked the young men and women, who played a very courageous role  in creating social awareness in assisting the victims of the deadly lethal  disease and burying the infected bodies.

Expressing satisfaction over the country’s overall development activities,  the President said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister  Sheikh Hasina, has been relentlessly working to turn the youth into human  resources by providing motivation, training, loan assistance and advice to  them irrespective of villages and towns.  While congratulating the awardees he said that some successful self- employed people are earning lakhs of Taka per month, which is definitely good  news. “It can be a role model for others,” he added.   At the function, a total of 27 people were awarded the National Youth  Award for their outstanding contributions to various fields.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Zahid Ahsan Russell, MP, presided  over the function. Senior Secretary Md Akhter Hossain and Director General of  the Department of Youth Development Md. Azharul Islam Khan, among others,  also spoke there.  At the function, video images of youth activities were screened. The  President also enjoyed it from the Bangabhaban. Secretaries concerned and  senior civil and military officials were also present on the occasion.