Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday cautioned the leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of ruling Bangladesh Awami League, as saying that intruders in guise of the BCL activists are causing various troubles but the true BCL activists are being blamed for those wrongdoings.
"Chhatra League is a big organisation and since we have been in power for quite a long time, many bad people are intruding into the party. They are causing various troubles for their personal interests but the blame falls on the BCL," the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said this while speaking at a discussion meeting organised by the BCL central executive committee at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the capital marking the National Mourning Day and 47th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
With BCL President Al Nahiyan Khan Joy in the chair, its General Secretary Lekhak Bhattacharya moderated the discussion.
BCL Dhaka University Unit President Sonjit Chandra Das, General Secretary Saddam Hossain, Dhaka North Unit President Ibrahim Hossain, General Secretary Saidur Rahman Hridoy, Dhaka South Unit President Mehedi Hasan and General Secretary Jubayer Ahmed, among others, also spoke.
At the outset of the discussion, one minute of silence was observed to pay tribute to the martyrs of the August 15 carnage.
The premier also unveiled BCL's two publications -"Matribhumi" and "Joy Bangla" at the event.
In her speech, Sheikh Hasina directed the BCL leaders not to include bad elements in the party to enlarge their own group. "It harms your reputation, party's reputation, country's reputation as some people are always against us," she added.
Laying emphasis on education, Sheikh Hasina said BCL leaders and activists will have to study to learn as fourth industrial revolution (4IR) nears.
"I want skilled human resources and that is why I've established a number of universities to meet the demand as it is the time for science and technology and 4IR," she said.
The prime minister said every BCL leader and activist has to build themselves as eligible citizens through achieving proper education.
"Education and knowledge are inevitable to run the country alongside knowing history and developing foresight," she said, adding that without these, country's development will never be materialised.
Sheikh Hasina said after the 1975, the country's educational institutions witnessed clattering of arms and bombs, but Awami league government have ensured congenial atmosphere for education, wiping out those disturbing elements from the campuses.
To ensure education for all, she said that her government is setting up universities in each district and providing stipend to the students to ensure higher education.
Mentioning that Ziaur Rahman handed over arms to the students, the premier said she gave pen, paper and book to the hand of BCL men for education. "Actually, without education, none can serve the nation," she said.
She directed the BCL men to put concentration on study at first as the government has diversified the education.
About the August 15 carnage, she said her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman could never believe that any Bangalee could kill him.
He (Bangabandhu) had brought the independence of the country and led a very simple life always despite being the president and the prime minister of the country, she said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also asked the BCL men to build themselves as perfect leaders by moving forward with sacrificing mind leaving behind personal interest and greed.
Sheikh Hasina, also the ruling Awami League (AL) President, said, "If you want to make money and wealth unnecessarily, you can't attain leadership quality, can't serve the country and can't give the people anything".
She said BCL leaders and activists will have to build themselves as true patriots being imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War and the belief of non-communalism. "Then you can go to the right direction," she added.
Mentioning that money and wealth don't do anything in the time of necessity, the premier said Covid-19 pandemic has shown us it as many wealthy people became helpless at that time.
"We have to keep it in mind. It's the reality. It's true," she said.
The AL president asked the BCL leaders and activists to read the Unfinished Memories, Karagarer Rojnamcha (Diary in Jail), Amar Dekha Naya Chin of Bangabandhu and the Secret Documents of Pakistani intelligence to learn many things and facts.
"If you read the secret document, you will learn many things and may gain knowledge about politics," she said.
Sheikh Hasina also asked the BCL leaders and activists to engage them in enhancing food production as the world might face a deeper food crisis.
"If needed, our Chhatra League will have to help plant paddy seedlings as they did in harvesting paddy (during the Covid-19 period)," she said.
She called upon every BCL men to plant trees massively, engage in crop cultivation and thus increase food production in their respective village homes and the place where he or she lives - it may be a hostel or educational institute.
Because, the world might witness direr situation and the foods might not be purchased despite having money, she said, adding, "So, we will have to produce our own foods."
The premier also urged the BCL men to show austerity in the use of electricity, water and fuels amid the world economic crisis.