PM asks BCL leaders prepare for 4IR

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders and activists to prepare themselves as skilled manpower to utilize their innovative power and avail themselves of the advantage of upcoming technology (4IR), keeping away from corruption, militancy, terrorism.  

 “The 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) will come and in this technological era, the efficiency of people will also change. So, the BCL leaders and activists will have to be ready from now on in the befitting manner,” she said, reports BSS.  The Premier was addressing the 74th founding anniversary function of BCL at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh Auditorium, joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban. Reminding the BCL leaders and activists Bangabandhu’s quote “Great achievement requires great sacrifice”, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of ruling Awami League, urged them not to be misguided. 

“You should not be associated with terrorism, militancy and corruption. (You) have to keep (yourself) away from those and have to pay special attention so the country can move forward on the path of peace and development,” she told the BCL leaders and activists. She said each BCL leader and activist should keep in mind that it is the job of a political leader to work for the people.

Referring to BCL’s main mantra - education, peace and progress, she said, “The world is moving forward and we have to go ahead in line with the latest innovations in science and technology.”  In this connection, the Prime Minister said her government has made computer education, technology education, internet use and mobile phone available to all.

As a result of being in power continuously since 2008, she said, today it has become possible to expand the use of technology to remote areas of Bangladesh. “So, there is no chance to deceive people anymore. People's eyes have opened because the world has come in the palm of their hand.”  

 Awami League Presidium Member Abdur Rahman also spoke while BCL President Al-Nahian Khan Joy was in the chair. BCL General Secretary Lekhak Bhattacharya conducted the function. At the outset of the event, one-minute silence was observed in respect to all the martyrs.

Besides, a video documentary on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was screened, while theme song of Chhatra League was also sung. The premier also opened “Matribhumi Corner” at BCL’s headquarters in city’s Bangabandhu Avenue where collection of all books, documentaries and write-ups on Bangabandhu as well as books and write-ups of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina were accumulated.

Former presidents and general secretaries of BCL central executive committee as well as former leaders of other units were also present. Mentioning that her government's goal is to move forward along the path of technology and they have opened that path, the Prime Minister said, "So, we have to move forward following the path of progress and utilizing new innovation." 

Referring to the Fifth five-year plan and perspective plans, she called upon the BCL leaders and activists to become well educated to attain the desired goals. She hoped that, "Bangladesh will become a prosperous and developed country by 2041 and you (BCL) have to take preparation to be the soldiers of developed-prosperous Bangladesh of 2041." 

Sheikh Hasina said by following the principles and ideology of Banganbandhu all obstacles can be overcome. In this connection, she mentioned the issue of construction of Padma Bridge with own financing. 

"The announcement of constructing Padma Bridge with own-financing through tackling the challenge of corruption allegation of World Bank has radically changed the image of Bangladesh before the whole world," she said, calling upon all for upholding this achievement. 

She said Awami League is the party of mass people and this organization has been established by speaking about the people who have lost their rights. 

"This pride should be there, but it has to keep in mind that it should not be turned into egoism, rather you must be humble. And the people of the country have to be loved." 

In this context, Sheikh Hasina referred to her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibir Rahman's quote that he made in an interview with the famous journalist David Frost, saying that "I love my people, I love them too much." 

She added he really loved the people of this country, but it is 

unfortunate that he had to endure the bullets of those, whom he loved unconditionally. 

She continued that, "I dealt with bullets, bombs --many more... I don't think about it, but the pace (of development) must continue... Again, we do not have to go back." 

She went on saying that all the leaders of affiliated organizations including BCL and others should be aware of this issue so that, "No hyena can come forward and play tricks with the fate of the people of this country and none will be allowed to do this". 

The Awami League President asked BCL men to build themselves as an ideal worker, saying that, "Be careful, not to let your feet slip under the influence of any greed, rather strengthen the organization and work in the spirit of liberation war with the Father of the Nation's ideology. And that's how leadership will be built." 

The country's largest students' organisation having a glorious heritage of struggle and success, the BCL came into being on January 4, 1948, as advised by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.  

The Prime Minister asked the BCL leaders and activists to make the organisation stronger in a well-organised way for facing challenges in the coming days. 

"The new technologies (4IR) are on and the BCL has to prepare its leaders and activists to cope with the situation and avail the opportunity properly by taking education and training," she advised.

She said the BCL leaders and activists, who want to establish themselves as political leaders, have to move forward with an ideology and honesty.  "In this evolving world, you've to keep up the pace and have a specific goal with which you'll be able to lead the country to fulfil the dream of the Father of the Nation." 

She laid emphasis on the necessity of building BCL with the right values and ideals so the country may get its future leaders from the organisation as it is closely related to the history and all achievements of the nation.    

Sheikh Hasina said the nation responded to the call of the Father of the Nation and liberated the country by taking up arms. "When Bangabandhu was assassinated with his entire family, why did all come to a standstill? That's a big question (to me), I never get an answer to that question, maybe I will get it," she said.  She added the assassination of the Father of the Nation had not only taken away him alone, but also taken away and diminished the spirit and ideology of the independence.   

She noted the defeated forces along with the anti-Bangladesh nexus couldn't accept the emergence of Bangladesh and they took their revenge by killing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.   

The head of the government said the grassroots activists and leaders of Awami League and BCL were always vocal against the killing and they never took any wrong decision although some of the senior leaders got derailed.  She said the government has given immense importance to education as this is the big tool to eradicate poverty from the country.

She urged each and every BCL leader and activist to give importance to education and educate the illiterate people. Asking the youths to become entrepreneurs instead of looking for jobs, the Prime Minister said, "Be the employer to give jobs to others . . . we're here to provide you all kinds of assistance." 

Turning on the challenges during the Coronavirus outbreak, she appreciated the BCL's role during the Covid-19 period for helping farmers to harvest crops during this pandemic. 

Against the backdrop of the new variant Omicron, she asked the countrymen to follow the health guidelines to stop the spread of it, which is more dangerous than the previous ones. 

"Protect yourselves and help others stay safe," she added.