You’re Bangladesh’s ambassadors, PM tells children

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday urged children and adolescents to excel not only in their studies but also in sports, arts and culture, saying they would have to build a strong and prosperous Bangladesh.

“You will have to build this Bangladesh and make it strong on the world stage. Each of you is an ambassador of Bangladesh and an owner of this country,” he told the children while inaugurating the second season of the nationwide “Notun Kuri Sports-2026-27” competition at Khulna District Stadium.

The Prime Minister said academic education alone would not be enough to succeed in the world, stressing that children must develop skills in sports, arts and culture alongside their studies.

“Some of you will become doctors, engineers, architects or lawyers. But alongside your studies, you must also learn sports, arts and culture,” he said.

Tarique said the government wanted to create an environment where children could pursue their studies while regularly taking part in sports and cultural activities.

Referring to the performances by students of the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) at the programme, he said they had demonstrated their skills not only in sports but also through dance, music and other cultural performances.

The Prime Minister encouraged children across the country to develop their talents in different fields. “ You can do it. You can study, you can play sports, and you can also develop skills in arts and culture.”

He said over 16 lakh children and adolescents had registered for the second season of Notun Kuri Sports, with the final round scheduled to be held in June next year.

Tarique said the huge participation showed that there was no shortage of talent among the country's children and adolescents, adding that it was the government's responsibility to create the necessary opportunities and environment for them to develop their potential.

He also stressed the importance of learning a third language alongside Bangla and English, saying children would be given the opportunity to choose one from among six or seven foreign languages.

“If you do well in your studies, become skilled in sports, arts and culture, and learn a third foreign language, no nation in the world will be able to hold you back,” the Prime Minister said.

He expressed hope that Bangladesh would one day become a strong and prosperous country that others would cite as an example.

At the programme, the Prime Minister handed over offer letters for admission to BKSP to 40 young students.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque and acting Secretary Md Mahfuzul Alam Khan also addressed the programme.

The Prime Minister also virtually launched the competition simultaneously in 503 upazilas across the country.

He inaugurated the second season by releasing balloons and pigeons. He also enjoyed various performances by BKSP students and Chinese students at the programme.

A total of 16,23,218 children and adolescents have registered online for this season. Volleyball and table tennis have been added to the previous eight events, taking the total number of disciplines to 10.

Children aged between 10 and 14 are eligible to participate in the competition, which carries the slogan “Make sports a profession, give families confidence”.

The first season of Notun Kuri Sports was inaugurated in Sylhet on May 2 last.

After the programme, Tarique planted a tree on the stadium premises and later visited Khulna Circuit House field, where he exchanged greetings with people gathered.

He left Khulna for Dhaka by helicopter at 5:22pm. -UNB