Riyad encourages future change makers

Students of Lakhera High School in Chattogram's Patiya upazila made a pledge to Bangladesh vice-captain Mahmudullah Riyad yesterday that they would 'say no to eve-teasing and child marriage'.

As a goodwill ambassador for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Mahmudullah was on an awareness campaign, which was organised in collaboration with Save the Children International foundation and Johns Hopkins University.

The 32-year-old batsman visited USAID's Ujjiban Social Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) centre, Lakhera High School, a community clinic and a slum as part of his tour.

Mahmudullah also spoke to couples about the importance of family planning, encouraged a group of youths to be change makers and prevent child marriages in their communities and urged students to 'say no to eve teasing'.

"The teachers are your guardians and so you must follow their advice," he told the students, "I always try to follow the advice of my coach in cricket as the coach is my teacher."

A special treat for the Lakhera High School students was an opportunity to play with the Test cricketer in a friendly cricket match.

"I can't express my feelings today after shaking hands with Riyad," Reshmi Akter, a 10th grader, told The Daily Star after realising her lifelong dream of meeting her favourite cricketer.

Mahmudullah was announced as USAID's goodwill ambassador for youth and development in 2017.