Be good citizens

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the children of the country to prepare themselves as worthy citizens to have their own dignified place in this competitive world.

"You're the country's future leaders...must be attentive to your studies, technological studies ... you must be the experts of the most modern technologies to move forward keeping pace with the world," she said.

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The PM was addressing a function organised marking the 52nd birthday of Sheikh Russell, who was the youngest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Sheikh Russell Jatiya Shishu Kishore Parishad organised the programme at Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh.

Hasina, the eldest sister of Sheikh Russell, asked the children to be ready for making any sacrifice for the country as all the great achievements have come through great sacrifices.

She urged all to stay away from the path of militancy and drug addiction.

Recalling various stories related to Sheikh Russell, an emotional Hasina said no child should face the fate Sheikh Russell met. "I don't want to see the recurrence of such brutal killings on the soil of this country."

Expressing her government's firm commitment to stop such brutalities in future, Hasina said her government has enacted laws to protect the rights of children and stop their abuses.

Hasina said her government is striving to build a country where every child will have a safe life and the opportunity to build his or her future in a congenial atmosphere.

Chaired by founding president of the Parishad M Raqibur Rahman, the programme was addressed, among others, by Chittagong University Vice Chancellor Dr Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury, advisor to the organization.

The PM distributed prizes among the winners of different sports and cultural competitions on the occasion and later enjoyed a cultural programme performed by the members of the Parishad.