A total of 177 students were given Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award this year.
British High Commissioner Robert W Gibson gave the award at a ceremony on Monday evening.
This is the third time the formal ceremony has been held at the High Commissioner’s Residence, with this year the largest number of awards being presented across 56 institutions who offer the award.
Speaking on the occasion, Robert Gibson said, “the hard work and dedication not just of those being awarded but to all those who volunteer and assist in making it happen is testament to the vision of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.”
He expressed his pleasure as the foundation in Bangladesh has been awarded a license for 6 years to continue and build on that good work.
“I also want to express sincere thanks to the Trustees who have not only guided the foundation to where it is, but also have recognized and development opportunities to enable as many people to access the Award as possible,” he added.
Since 1956, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has seen millions of people in over 140 countries and territories from all types of backgrounds engage in a variety of challenging activities and personal development.
In Bangladesh, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Foundation is relatively young having only been set-up in August 2008. However it has grown quickly with now having more than 10000 awardees. Last year over 3300 students enrolled across all the award levels in 56 educational establishments across six divisions.
Mirza Salman Ispahani, Chairman, Board of Trustees said: “Successfully we have got the Full License for six years, and we are the best practitioner in our region out of four countries and as well in positioning status we are in number four out of the nine full licensees over the world.”
Abrar A Anwer, Treasurer of the Board of Trustees wished: “As its recipients, you have joined to an exemplary group of people who have demonstrated that they are ready to reach for the highest. That they are focused to succeed great, inspired to dream biggest, dedicated to serve noble.”
Chairman of the Executive Committee of The DEA Bangladesh Mr. Rizwan Bin Farouq said: “It’s very hard to achieve the Gold Award especially through a harder evaluation session. So this Award goes to the most deserving candidates and they will be obviously benefitted in their future carrier.”
Unveiling the future plans of DEA Bangladesh chapter, Professor Dr. K M Shariful Huda, the National Director, said: “The Award encourages self-improvement alongside the notion of being a responsive and engaged member of the community – of using one’s skill and talent for the greater good of our society.”
