No more arson death: Hasina

Voicing her high hope that no more people will be burnt to death in the name of hartal and blockade, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday vowed to turn Bangladesh into a nice and peaceful abode for all.

"We don't want people, including children and expectant mothers, to be burnt to death. We don't want children to fall victims to such vengeance. We want a beautiful future and a peaceful environment for all," she said.

Hasina further said, "We want a developed and prosperous Bangladesh. We'll leave behind a beautiful future for our children through building the country in that way, and that's our goal."

The prime minister was addressing a Children's Rally organised on the Bangabandhu Mausoleum complex premises at Tungipara, Gopalganj marking the 96th birthday of the Father of the Nation and the National Children's Day. The rally was organized jointly by Women and Children Affairs Ministry and Gopalganj district administration.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze Chumki, Secretary Tariqul Islam, Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Zillar Rahman and Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner Khalilur Rahman spoke at the programme.

Hasina urged the children, teenagers and youths to become true human beings after getting a proper properly, obtaining knowledge about the country's rich tradition, and taking part in sports and cultural activities to become good citizens of this country. "You’ll groom yourselves in such a way so that we can move ahead at the global stage with our heads held high."

She said the country’s future leaders will come from the children and the youths as someone among will become the prime minister, Ministers and assume positions in various important fields.

The prime minister said on this birthday of Bangabandhu. It should be the pledge of all to build Bangladesh as a nice abode for all alongside making it a hunger- and poverty-free 'Sonar Bangla' imbued with the spirit of the War of Liberation and thus materialise the dream of Bangabandhu.

Terming the assassination of Bangabandhu along with most of his family members on August 15, 1971 as a disgraceful day for the whole of nation, the prime minister said with his death the nation had not only lost the Father of the Nation but also the history and ideology of the War of Liberation as it had been stampeded completely.

"I'll urge the children, teenagers and youths to build Bangladesh in light with the spirit of the War of Liberation and the ideology of our Father of the Nation. No child would remain without education on Bangladesh’s soil and will lead a nice life," she added.

Hasina also urged them to study with rapt attention and to be careful and passionate about the poor, helpless and the disabled.

Quoting Bangabandhu that a great sacrifice is needed for gaining a great achievement, his eldest daughter said the Father of the Nation had presented independence to the nation and dedicated his life to it. "Now our duty is to make this independence fruitful."

Recalling the role of Bangabandhu in ensuring the welfare of children, Hasina said her government has declared the birthday of the Father of the Nation as the National Children's Day as he was very passionate about children and wanted to build a bright future for them.

Hasina said Bangabandhu made primary education free for children and framed the Children's Act in 1974 to ensure their welfare.

Following the footprint of Bangabandhu, Hasina said her government formulated the National Children's Policy in 2011.

The prime minister also mentioned various steps of her government for the welfare of the children, including free distribution of textbooks up to secondary level, providing stipends, introduction of multimedia classrooms and ICT labs, giving midday meals for them at schools, providing assistance from the PM's Education Assistance Trust Fund, gradually making mandatory computer education at primary level, creating scope for getting technology-based education and implementing various projects so that the children become healthy.

Apart from these, Sheikh Hasina said her government introduced Bangabandhu Gold Cup and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Football Tournament while inter-primary school sports and cultural competitions were being arranged from 2011 apart from laying emphasis on inter-school and inter- district competitions.

Later, she handed over prizes among the successful participants of various schools in different competitions.

She also witnessed a colorful cultural programme and inaugurated a book fair on the occasion.