PM receives Champion of Skill Development for Youth award

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UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Shakib Al Hasan extended heartfelt congratulations to the prime minister for the wonderful recognition

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has received an award titled ‘Champion of Skill Development for Youth’ for Bangladesh’s great success in youth skill development.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) conferred the award on the premier at a ceremony at Labouisse Hall of UNICEF House in the UN Plaza on Thursday evening.

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore handed over the award to the prime minister amid thunderous applause from the audience.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Bangladesh National Cricket Captain Shakib Al Hasan also spoke at the function.

Receiving the award, the prime minister thanked the UNICEF for conferring her the recognition.

“It is true that the people of Bangladesh, especially the children of the country- and the world- deserve this recognition,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina dedicated the award to the country’s boys and girls, as well as the people of the country, and all the children of the world.

“This honour is not mine alone; it belongs to Bangladesh, because the people of Bangladesh have elected me through votes. That is why I got the scope and the opportunity to serve them” she said.

The prime minister called upon the expatriates to extend their help for the development of the respective schools of the country where they studied.

Sheikh Hasina said millions of young people are continuously making a difference in our lives and livelihoods with the help of their skills.  

“This recognition also manifests our steady strides in transforming Bangladesh into a responsible and knowledge-based society and economy,” she added.

Recalling the contributions of the youth towards building up our nation, the prime minister said: “Our youth folk played a courageous role in all critical junctures of the nation.”

After the emergence of Bangladesh, she said, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman realized that, without fulfilling the potential of the youth, it is not possible to progress.

“We are committed to building a knowledgeable young generation who can face challenges and help towards building a Golden Bengal, as envisioned by the Father of the Nation,” she said.

The prime minister said her government is working tirelessly to create jobs for the youths. “Each year two million youths enter the labour market in Bangladesh,” she said.

“We have focused on the importance of skill development and taken several initiatives to equip youths with proper knowledge and skills. We’re also encouraging self-employment,” she said.

The Ministry of Education has taken initiatives to update the status of technical and vocational education, and training according to the local and global market demands, she added.

“The government is establishing 100 technical schools and colleges (TSCs) in 100 selected upazilas. Gradually, such schools and colleges will be established in the rest of the upazilas in the country,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government designs development plans based on the principles of leaving no one behind. “The Ministry of Youths and Sports has undertaken a project to transform the unemployed and unskilled youths into human resources,” she said.

The prime minister thanked the UNICEF for its continuous support for Bangladesh’s success, particularly for the development of education as well as child and women rights development. “UNICEF is always supportive to Bangladesh,” she remarked.

UNICEF appreciates

In her speech, the UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore highly praised Bangladesh’s tremendous development in different sectors under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

She appreciated the Bangladesh government for framing a time-befitting National Skill Development Policy and implementing it.

Referring to the influx of 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas into Bangladesh, the UNICEF Executive Director also hailed the government for sheltering such a huge population.

Speaking on the occasion, Shakib Al Hasan said since its independence in 1971, Bangladesh has placed children at the center of its policies, as well as made great strides in reducing child mortality rate, increasing access to education and ensuring gender parity in schools.

“Our honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led these efforts from the front,” he said.

“It’s truly wonderful that Bangladesh, as represented by her Excellency Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was recognized by UNICEF for its (country’s) very conscious pursuance in skill development for young people,” he added.

The UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador expressed his confidence that very good policies and programs of the government will contribute to further achievements in economic growth, equity and sustainable development goals.

Shakib extended heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as leader of the nation for the wonderful recognition.
Source: https://www.dhakatribune.com

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