Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked students to stay away from terrorism, militancy and drug abuse to make themselves as worthy citizens of the country to lead the nation in the coming days.

‘Our children must keep aloof themselves from terrorism, militancy and drug addiction. I urge them to build themselves as ideal citizens to lead the nation in the future,’ she said.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the closing ceremony of the 46th National Winter Sports Competition of Schools and Madrasahs at Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Sheikh Hasina said through sports, songs, cultural competitions, study and other activities children get the scope to flourish their merits and creativity. ‘I ask teachers to be more careful about that,’ she said.

The Prime Minister also said nobody likes to hear the advice ‘read and read’ all the time. ‘Study, sports and cultural activities should go simultaneously. I’m asking all to work to that direction keeping this in mind,’ she said.

The Prime Minister in her brief speech said her government has attached importance to sports activities in educational institutions, and underlined the regular arrangement of competitions in all schools and colleges.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid also spoke on the occasion.

Department of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education organised the countrywide competition.

The Prime Minister distributed prizes among the winners of different events of the competition.

Congratulating the participating students, the Prime Minister hoped that the students would be more encouraged in such sports and games in the future to flourish their dormant talents.

Hasina said her government has taken initiatives to make such huge arrangement as it did in the past to develop the new generation to compete in international events in the future.

She mentioned that her government always encouraged the arrangement of domestic sports and games like kabadi, football and other local games.

As part of the steps, she said, some 2.50 lakh of 16,101 schools and 7, 611 madrasas from across the country took part in the 46th winter National School and Madrasah Sports Competition.

The events were arranged from upazila to district, from district to region and from region to national levels, mentioned Hasina adding that the students who took part at the national level competition came out from the grassroots.

The Prime Minister hoped that talented children coming out from the competition will be able to brighten Bangladesh’s image in global sports arena.

Earlier, students of Narayanganj Ideal School and Bangladesh Girls’ Guide Association in their performance highlighted the struggles and sacrifices of the nation in establishing the rights to mother tongue Bangla as well as independent Bangladesh.

Noted singer Dinat Jahan Munni riding a boat van presented the theme song ‘Kheladhula Korba, Shusta Swadesh Gorhbo’.

More than 800 boys and girls took part in the final round of the competition in national level, which included seven disciplines like athletics, hockey, cricket, basketball, volleyball, badminton and table tennis.