DHAKA, Oct 30, 2019 (BSS) – President M Abdul Hamid today called upon scout leaders, guardians, teachers, public representatives and other concerned to utilize the scout movement as a tool of changing the society.
“Gear up the scout movement as a tool of changing the society . . . Don’t confine it merely to formal occasions, meetings and seminars. Intensify the scout movement at all vicinities and colonies,” he said, in his written speech, at the 48th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the National Council of Bangladesh Scouts at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy here this afternoon.
President Hamid, also the chief of Bangladesh Scouts, could not attend the programme due to an unavoidable circumstance.
President’s Secretary Sampad Barua read out the speech of President Abdul Hamid at the inaugural session of the scouts’ council.
The head of the state also asked scouts, scout leaders and other concerned to take pragmatic measures to make the scout activities visible.
He also stressed on enhancing quality activities of the scouts instead of solely increasing the number of its members.
“A scout should manifest all ideals and qualities of scouting in his or her life so that others can be inspired to become a scout,” Abdul Hamid opined.
He added: “There is no alternative to building a right and competent leadership to make the ongoing development sustainable. So we have to build honest, efficient and competent leadership through decentralization of leadership and scouting.”
President Hamid put emphasis on infusing dynamism into the scout movement to build young generation with human values and keeping them (youths) away from terrorism, militancy, fanaticism and misuse of technologic devices.
“Selfishness, jealousy, greed and moral erosion are putting negative impact on the children-juveniles . . . Simultaneously worldwide terrorism, militancy and misuse of technology are also misleading them. Scouting can play an effective role in this regard,” he observed.
Abdul Hamid also underpinned the need of making new generation self-confident, patriot, service-oriented and good citizens, which will help turn Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s “Sonar Bangla” into a science- and ICT-based “Digital Bangladesh”.
He said the scout leaders must inspire children, juveniles and youths to get educated with moral and practical education, being imbued with patriotism.
“Let the scouts know the actual history of country’s struggle of independence and the Liberation War,” the President advised.
He hoped that the scouts would contribute more to the country’s socioeconomic development in line with the global scout movement.
In absence of the President, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry M Mahbub Ali graced the occasion as the chief guest.
Bangladesh Scouts President and Chief Coordinator of the Prime Minister Office’s SDG Affairs Abul Kalam Azad and Chief National Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) commissioner Dr M Mozammel Haque Khan also spoke there.