Cultivate Social and Religious Values from School Level, Urges Prime Minister

Prime Minister Tariq Rahman has emphasized the critical need to cultivate social and religious values from the school level to protect the youth from moral degradation and the grip of drug addiction. To steer the younger generation toward a positive path, the premier stressed the importance of promoting nationwide sports, cultural activities, and innovative competitions year-round.

He made these remarks during an interactive view-exchange meeting with senior journalists at the China-Friendship Conference Centre on Tuesday.

Addressing the rising challenges of substance abuse among youths aged 15 to 25, the Prime Minister noted that administrative crackdowns or counseling alone are insufficient due to resource limitations. Instead, he argued, the country must leverage the immense physical and mental energy of the youth through constructive channels. Expressing concern over the acute shortage of playgrounds across the country, including Dhaka, he directed the Ministry of Information to launch extensive public awareness campaigns to restore social empathy and counter recent trends of social cruelty and moral decay.

Highlighting government initiatives, the Prime Minister shared that the newly launched 'Notun Kuri' sports and cultural competition recently saw the participation of 2.2 million students nationwide, regardless of their political backgrounds, though he regretted that the milestone received limited media coverage. He urged educational institutions to host debate and cultural competitions throughout the year rather than limiting them to national holidays, alongside organizing regional science fairs. During the session, the Premier also addressed queries regarding economic reforms, rural economy revitalization, and the objectives of the proposed 'Family Card' and 'Farmers Card' initiatives. The event was attended by the Information Minister, top government officials, and editors from various media outlets.