Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said her government targets to offer the children a better life free from clutches of drugs, militancy, terrorism and corruption as she addressed a function coinciding with World Children Day and Child Rights Week.
“Our target is to give our children a beautiful and improved life free from the adverse impact of militancy, terrorism, narcotics and corruption,” she told the function at Bangladesh Shishu Academy here.
The premier said the government will build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country so that today’s children can get a worthy future in the days to come as “we have been working to accomplish the goal.”
Spelling out Bangabandhu’s initiatives to offer the children a better life, the premier said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made the primary education free for students and secondary education for girls.
Bangabandhu enacted the children law in 1974 to protect the rights of children, she said.
Ministry of Women and Children Affairs organised the function with the slogan “Today’s children bring the light, keep the world well”.
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatunnesa Indira presided over the function.Chairman of Bangladesh Shishu Academy Lucky Enam and Deputy Representative of UNICEF Veera Mendonka spoke at the event as special guests.
Secretary of the ministry Kamrun Nahar gave welcome address.
Two children Rownak Jahan and Adil Kibria moderated the function while another two Mahzabin Rahman and Abdullah Al Hasan spoke on the occasion on behalf of the children.
A compilation of the letters written by children to the premier and a portrait of her, also drawn by a child, were handed over to Sheikh Hasina.
The prime minister witnessed a cultural programme and later joined a photo session with the children.
The premier earlier inspected newly digitised central library and freshly set up Bangabandhu corner on the Shishu Academy campus, having the books written by or on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his elder daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
She also visited newly renovated Sheikh Russell Gallery and Sheikh Russell Art Gallery in Sheikh Russell Children Museum.
Extending greetings to the children on the occasion of the World Children Day and Child Rights Week-2019, Sheikh Hasina urged them to make themselves as worthy citizens of the country as they are the future of the nation.
The premier said children will lead the nation as they will be entrusted with leadership, adding that it is important to groom themselves with love, compassion and education so that they could make a positive impact on the world in future.
Stressing the need for ensuring fundamental rights of the children to give them a worthy life, she said “It is necessary to develop humanitarian qualities among the children to make the country as well as the world livable”
