Natore: State Minister for Social Welfare Barrister Farzana Sharmin has emphasized the importance of harnessing the innovative ideas of youth, fueled by digital technology, to build a meritorious nation. She highlighted the unprecedented youth representation in the current parliament, with young members actively participating from both the government and opposition, thereby enriching state policy-making.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Sharmin made these remarks during a scholarship distribution ceremony organized by the Public University Students' Association of Natore (PUSAN), held online last night. She urged students to contribute to the country's welfare alongside their studies, suggesting that they can play a crucial role in raising awareness and building public opinion against social issues like drug abuse and physical and mental abuse.
Sharmin praised PUSAN's decade-long commitment to providing scholarships to meritorious and financially disadvantaged students, noting its exemplary initiatives and networking efforts. She expressed the government's desire to guide the youth's indomitable energy into creative activities, aiming to build a humane state.
Addressing the issue of drug-induced crimes, the state minister noted that legal measures alone are insufficient. She stressed the importance of social awareness, emphasizing that students' direct involvement in awareness campaigns could yield the best results.
The event was presided over by PUSAN President Naushin Ashrafi Anchal and featured speeches from several notable figures, including Additional Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division Abu Saleh Md. Mohiuddin Khan and Dr. Sahana Begum Shelly, an Associate Professor at Chattogram Medical College.
PUSAN, which has been active since 2017, consists of 18,000 students from Natore enrolled in 97 public universities, engineering universities, and government medical colleges. The organization is currently providing monthly scholarships of Taka 2,000 to 39 students, supporting education-development activities across the nation.