Opportunities will move youths to nation building

Proper opportunities will inspire brilliant young minds to build the nation, top achievers in the O- and A-Level exams told a seminar in the capital yesterday.     

"There are many institutions in Bangladesh that brilliant people can greatly improve and help build the country instead of going abroad," said Shafique Choudhury from Mastermind.  

The Daily Star organised, "Future Bangladesh: Share Your Dream", at The Daily Star Centre where some 50 pupils reflected their thoughts and concerns on issues including agriculture, industry, urbanisation, education, culture, history, patriotism and parents' role. 

They are among 1,760 honoured by The Daily Star at its 16th annual award presentation ceremony this year.     

Brilliant people will surely serve the country if provided opportunities, said Nabil Fazle Rahman from Bangladesh International School & College, while political stability was crucial, for politics affects everyone no matter whether one gets involved or not.  

Creating adequate research facilities is vital in pursuing studies in the fields of science and technology, said Nafhatul Jannat Huq Evana from Academia.

Focusing on the enormous economic disparity, she said while a handful was becoming extremely rich, the rest were starving. Sexual harassment of women must also be dealt with accordingly, said Evana.

Kahn Sajid Mahmood from Mastermind said presently science and engineering graduates, no matter how meritorious they may be, have very little opportunity in the country's job market which offers meagre pay.

This will either prompt bright students aspiring to study science and technology to go abroad or demoralise them, he said.

Pointing at repeated public exam question paper leaks in recent years, Kazi Nazifa Dilruba from Maple Leaf International School said moral integrity, not undue advantage, was what should matter to society.

On urbanisation, Ahmed Zarif-ul-Kabir from Mastermind said Dhaka city should be decentralised by providing education, healthcare and employment opportunities in other cities.

Schools without playgrounds should not be allowed to run as obesity among young city people is a big challenge, he said.

"Mere buildings without parks and playgrounds should not be the pattern of urbanisation; young people are often seen hazardously playing on the city streets," added Shafat Rahman from Sunnydale School.     

Bushra Tasneen from Mastermind said mass media often exclude English medium students while celebrating public exam achievements of those under the national curriculum.

Mass media should not portray English medium education in a negative light, she said.   

Terming the public university admission process discriminatory, Arpita Maheswari from ABC International School of Narayanganj said English medium students who undertake international exams should be evaluated equally.

Saidur Rahman, country manager of Edexcel Bangladesh, said top public universities should provide an option to accommodate those studying international curriculum so that the best can get access.

Parents should not insist children on being what they wanted them to be, said Tamanna Zaman from Mount Royal Academy of Narayanganj. "All individuals are different and we are special in our own way," she said.     

Independent University, Bangladesh Vice-Chancellor Prof M Omar Rahman said these Bangladeshi youths were truly the global changemakers.     

Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, who moderated the seminar, said that one person's idea and dream bring about an enormous change towards nation building.

This happened with the innovative concepts of microcredit to fight poverty and non-formal education to eradicate illiteracy, both from Bangladesh, he said.    

"So, let's not underestimate the power of an individual. One has to just have the aspiration to be good enough to bring changes to the society," he said. 

Young Nation Builders' Club, an online forum enabling the best and brightest minds and future nation builders to stay connected, was also floated.