Emphasis the importance of nursing and flourishing scouting and girl-guide activities, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday hoped that militancy, terrorism, drug abuse and other anti-social menaces will be rooted out from the country with this, reports UNB. "I believe these types of social activities are very much important alongside academic ones. So I think these scout and girl-guide movement should be strengthened and expanded further through which we'll be able to stamp out militancy, terrorism, drug abuse and other anti-social activities from the country," she said while distributing Shapla Cub Award at her official residence Ganobhaban. She expressed her belief that the conscious children who are in scouting and girl guiding will be able to advance the country in the future.
Briefly describing various steps taken to expand the scout and girl-guide movement in the country, she said Bangladesh Scouts has its activities in all the educational institutions, including primary schools, as per the government's directives. "But, the activities of girl guides in the girls' schools are not up to the mark. But once it was there. I saw that in my childhood," she said.
Sheikh Hasina directed the Education Minister, Primary and Mass Education Minister and officials of Bangladesh Girl Guides Association and Bangladesh Scouts to build girl guides in every school. "I think each girls' school should have a unit of girl guides," she said.
She said the government has directed the officials to expand scouting in the country and they have taken steps to this end. "You've reaped its success," she said, adding that the girl guides' activities should get more attention. The Prime Minister
mentioned that there are 10 zones of girl guides. In some places, the activities are going on in rented offices while some have own places but no offices. “I think offices should be constructed there. We’ve constructed 10-storey building in Dhaka. If offices are set up in zonal areas, the activities of the girl guides will further be expanded.”
She said through scouting and girl-guide activities, the children are learning many things, including humane attitudes and conscience. “When the children will go for their livelihood, these qualities will play a vital role in the development of the country and nation.” Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted to build a poverty- and hunger-free country and Bangladesh has started its journey towards that direction.
She mentioned that the Awami League government has been able to establish Bangladesh as the role model of development before the entire world. “We’re trying to take the country forward and for that, the new generation has to be well-educated. They’ve to acquire patriotism, learn to love the country and nation and devote themselves for the welfare of people,” she said.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman, Bangladesh Scouts President and Principal Coordinator (SDG) to Prime Minister’s Office M Abul Kalam Azad, Chief National Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts Dr Md Mozammel Haque Khan, National Commissioner of Bangladesh Girl Guides Association Syeda Rehana Imam and National Commissioner (Programme) of Bangladesh Scouts Atiquzzaman also spoke at the programme.
Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated the 10-storey building of Bangladesh Girl Guides Association at Bailey Road in Dhaka and Shatabdi Bhaban of Bangladesh Scouts at Kakrail from the same venue.
She also laid the foundation stone of some other development projects at various places of the country relating to scouting and girl guides from the same place. Later, the Prime Minister witnessed a colourful cultural programme performed by scouts and girl guides at the green lawn of Ganobahaban.