Dear young friends, now Bangladesh is looking toward you: Prime Minister

ছবিঃ সংগৃহীত

News Desk: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that young students are the “future of tomorrow,” and from among them will emerge the country’s future leadership.
Encouraging students to develop themselves through both education and sports, the Prime Minister said, “I want each of you sitting in the gallery to become an ambassador of Bangladesh. You will have to take responsibility for the country, because you are its future.”
He made this call to students at the “Notun Kuri Sports” event held on Saturday (May 2) afternoon at Sylhet Stadium.
The event was organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. A documentary on Notun Kuri Sports was shown, followed by the broadcast of the theme song “We Are New, We Are Budding.”
Amid loud applause from the students, the Prime Minister said he did not feel like delivering a formal speech and instead wanted to speak with them directly.
He said, “Now is the time to study and to play. You must build yourselves. Those who want to become athletes will become athletes. At the same time, those who want to learn music will do so; those who want to become musicians will become musicians. We will arrange all of this, God willing.”
Addressing the young students present at the simultaneously held nationwide event across all 64 districts as the chief guests, he said, “All the young students sitting here and across the country—you are the chief guests of this program.”
The Prime Minister said, “Dear young friends, our time is almost over. Now Bangladesh is looking toward you. We will begin the journey, but you must take the country forward. Can you do it?”
At this, students across the stadium responded loudly, “Yes, we can.” The Prime Minister replied, “I know you all certainly can, God willing.”
He told the students, “You will lead the country and take it forward. From among you will come future members of parliament, ministers, prime ministers, and presidents, God willing.”
He further said, “Each of you must develop yourselves. Only then will Bangladesh develop. The future of Bangladesh depends entirely on you. The better you grow, the stronger and more beautiful the foundation of Bangladesh will be.”
Sharing how the idea of Notun Kuri Sports originated, he said, “About four and a half years ago, Aminul went to London. One day we were sitting together and discussing sports. As the conversation continued, we decided over a meal that we would launch Notun Kuri Sports in Bangladesh.”
Before the speech, students from BKSP performed acrobatic displays in eight events including cricket, kabaddi, football, athletics, chess, badminton, swimming, and martial arts. The Prime Minister watched their performances and encouraged them with applause.
At the end of the program, he officially inaugurated Notun Kuri Sports simultaneously across all 64 districts and also unveiled its trophy and logo.
He later went onto the field, met the participating students, exchanged greetings, and concluded the event by releasing pigeons and balloons. His spouse, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, was also present.
In addition to students from various educational institutions, people from different professions were present in the stadium gallery.
The program is being implemented by the Department of Sports under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Inspired by the popular talent-hunting program “Notun Kuri” from the 1980s, this initiative aims to discover sports talent.
State Minister for Sports Aminul Haque and Sports Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam also spoke at the event.
Among those present were the Prime Minister’s spouse Zubaida Rahman, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie, Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Adviser Humayun Kabir, Parliamentary Whip G.K. Ghaus, Members of Parliament Tahsina Rushdir Luna and M.A. Malek, Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury, and other senior government officials.