Help alleviate poverty

"It's my conviction that the will, merit, skill, creativity and work spirit of the youth will play a key role in building a poverty-free Bangladesh," he said while addressing the inaugural function of the National Youth Day-2005 at Shilpakala Academy in the city.

Iajuddin said the youths have huge potentials, which have to be used for the development of the country and the nation.

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"The youth will have to be awakened with the mantras of sense of responsibility, confidence, discipline and social values. Proper education, training, guidance and employment opportunities are needed for that," he said.

He said time has come today to find out a field of alternative jobs and "we'll have to look at rural areas instead of urban-based search for jobs."

"Every village of the country will be a hub of works for which we need to use the lands and water bodies available there as weapons of employment," he told his audience, including youths.

Iajuddin also distributed prizes among 16 successful self-employed youths and cheques of grant among 10 youth organisers.

State Minister for Youth and Sports M Fazlur Rahman MP and Secretary of Youth

and Sports Dr Abul Kashem Mahbubul Alam also spoke on the occasion.