The Department of Youth Development has so far provided training to over four million youths on various trades and about two million of them have become self-reliant alongside creating employment opportunities for others.
Various financial institutions including the Department of Youth Development have distributed around Tk280 billion as youth loan side by side temporary employment for some 63,156 youths was created following the introduction of National Service Programme.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina disclosed the figures while addressing a function marking the inauguration of the National Youth Day, 2013 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Friday, reports UNB.
Underscoring the need for massive involvement of youths in creating self-employment opportunities to build poverty and hunger-free Digital Bangladesh by 2021, the Prime Minister asked them to be self-reliant availing themselves of the existing facilities of collateral-free loans up to Tk100,000.
Sheikh Hasina said youth training centres have been expanded in 29 districts and internet connections were given up to the offices of 64 districts and 476 upazila youth development centres.
Later, the Prime Minister distributed prizes among 15 successful youths who created employment opportunities for themselves and for others.
Chaired by State Minister for Youth and Sports M Ahad Ali Sarkar, the function was addressed, among others, by chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry Zahid Ahsan Russell. Secretary of the Ministry Noor Mohammad delivered the welcome address, while Director General of Department of Youth Development Asit Kumar Mukutmoni gave the vote of thanks.
Successful self-employed Mohiuddin Ahmed of Feni and Sabina Sultana of Narayanganj expressed their feelings at the function.
Hasina said whenever her government assumed office it gave priority to the development of youths as it believes that the real development of the country is not possible without their proper and effective involvement.
Mentioning that the recent ODI series win against New Zealand has been possible due to the contributions of the country’s young cricketers, the Prime Minister expressed her hope that Bangladesh would also be able to clinch the cricket World Cup one day in the future.
She also underscored the need for winning the war against poverty where the youth force would have to play an important role.
Hasina also called upon all, including the youths, to put in their all-out efforts for building a hunger, poverty and illiteracy-free non-communal Bangladesh and turn it into a middle-income nation by 2021, when the country will be observing its golden jubilee of independence.
Recalling the contributions of the youths in various movements including in the country’s war of liberation in 1971, Language movement in 1952, Education Movement in 1962 and Six-point Movement of 1966, the Prime Minister said the nation would never forget their contributions and sacrifice.
Exhorting the youth not to step into the terrifying path of drug addiction, the prime minister urged them to devote themselves to the great duty of nation building upholding the ideals of morality, honesty, patriotism and humanity.
“I hope that the country’s youth forces will devote themselves to the great task of nation building upholding the ideals of morality, honesty, patriotism and humanism, and thus take the country to a dignified position at the global stage,” she said.
Terming drug addiction as a way towards destruction, Hasina stressed that the family members, teachers and guardians alongside religious leaders and Imam Muajjins through their preaching will have to play their due role in creating awareness among the youths against drug addiction.
Noting that a country could prosper and develop if its youths are properly educated and trained, she said the youth forces would have to build the country utilising their talents. “The Bangalees are highly talented, and we’ve to utilise the talents,”