President M Abdul Hamid on Monday 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 in the city.
Virtually inaugurating the "National Youth Day-2021" programme at the Osmani Auditorium from Bangabhaban, 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."
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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 fulfill 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 COVID-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.
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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.
