Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged the country’s children and juveniles to get prepared to take the country forward in the future considering themselves as successors of a victorious nation.

‘Think always that you (children and juveniles) are the successors of a victorious nation and you’ll have to build the country and take it forward (in the future), ‘she said addressing the Independence and National Day rally of children and juveniles at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haq was also present at the function held under the auspices of Dhaka District administration.

The Prime Minister said her government’s goal is to take Bangladesh to a dignified position in the global arena. ‘Bangladesh will be a developed and prosperous country in South Asia by 2041,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina went on saying, ‘We won’t bow down to anyone as we’ll live with dignity in the world because we’re a victorious nation; we won the Liberation War,’ she added.

She said today’s children are the future leaders of the country. ‘You may become the prime minister, ministers, greatest scientists, sportsmen and cultural personalities in the future.’

Sheikh Hasina urged parents, guardians, imams (clerics) and teachers to be careful so that their children in no way get engaged in terrorism, militancy and drug addiction.

The Prime Minister said parents and guardians will have to carry out efforts so that children can be attentive to their studies and prepare themselves as worthy citizens.

She called upon the children to brighten the image of parents building them as worthy men by pursuing education properly to obey the teachers and love the country deeply.

The Prime Minister witnessed the smartly turned-out march-past of school students and took salute. She enjoyed attractive displays of the students on different themes on the Liberation War.

The gallery of Bangabandhu National Stadium was decorated with portraits of Father of the Nation, photographs of the Prime Minister and natural beauty of Bangladesh.

At the rally, the Prime Minister hoisted the national flag and led the nation to sing national anthem ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ simultaneously around 8:00am.