Saying that the scout movement is very encouraging to make teenagers and youths self-reliant and worthy citizens, President M Abdul Hamid yesterday said scouting can play a very significant role to save the new generation from fanaticism, communalism, terrorism and militancy.
“Essence of religion is mankind as no religion allows militancy and terrorism . . . Scouts can play an important role against the curse of fanaticism, communalism, terrorism and militancy,” he said while addressing the “President’s Scout Award” distribution programme at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here.
The President said scouting activities can show new generation the way to modernization, creativity and development highway to turn Bangladesh into a “Sonar Bangla”, as dreamt by Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Stressing the need for expanding the welfare activities of scouts, Abdul Hamid said “We have to make the scouting activities more visible and popular everywhere.”
The President lauded the initiatives of scouts as work is on to increase its members to 2.1 million from 1.5 million in line with the “Bangladesh Scouts National Strategic Plan 2021”.
Abdul Hamid said the present government is extending all-out cooperation for intensifying the scout movement at all levels including villages, educational institutions and communities in Bangladesh.
He urged all leaders, guardians and scout leaders to gear up scout movements for various development programmes simultaneously to make efficient leaderships through scouting.
Referring to different social welfare-based voluntary works at the time of national emergency, the President called upon scouts to remain always ready to face any national crisis and also play an active role for building a prosperous Bangladesh.
President Hamid expressed the hope that as per the vision 2023, the scout movement would be the greatest ‘Education Youth Movement’ across the world where some 100 million scouts would contribute to bringing a “Positive Change “.
“I firmly believe that by taking part in different movements, our scouts will obviously contribute to build an ideal society,” he added congratulating the recipients of the “President’s Scout Award”.
Bangladesh Scouts organized the programme where a total of 365 scouts including 96 girls guide, were given the “President’s Scout Award’ for their outstanding performance in scouting activities.
Bangladesh Scouts President Abul Kalam Azad and Chief National Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts M Mozammel Haque Khan, National Commissioner (Programme) M Rafiqul Islam Khan, among others, also spoke.
State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Narayan Chandra Chanda, concerned secretaries and senior military and civil officials were also present on the occasion.
