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Volunteers are true social workers: Zakir

Staff Correspondent
06 Dec 2022 00:00:00 | Update: 05 Dec 2022 22:22:59
Volunteers are true social workers: Zakir
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain addresses a seminar marking the International Volunteer Day at Dhaka University on Monday – Courtesy Photo

Terming the activists who work voluntarily as true social workers, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain on Monday said without volunteers, it will become impossible to make the country beautiful.

He said currently about ten lakh volunteers are working in the country, adding, “It was the youths who struggled during the Language Movement voluntarily and subsequently liberated the country.”

Zakir came up with the comments while addressing a seminar marking the International Volunteer Day organised by Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) held at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building at Dhaka University as the chief guest on Monday

Acting Country Director of the VSO Khabirul Haque Kamal delivered the welcome speech with DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman in the chair.

Country Representative of Malala Fund Mosharraf Tansen presented the keynote paper while Programme Director of British Council David Knox, Education Advisor of Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office Mohammad Golam Kibria, Programme Development Specialist of USAID Shaheen Bin Siraz, and Executive Director of Sesame Bangladesh Mohammad Shah Alam addressed the inaugural session of the function.

The state minister said the government has undertaken many initiatives including the formation of the Voluntary Policy with the aim of developing the country.

“Many used to think of getting involved in different jobs after their graduation, but this perception has changed vastly and now, they tend to become volunteers,” he added.

Prof Akhtaruzzaman called on the young generation to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country through participation in voluntary activities.

Khadimul Haque hoped the volunteers will get more advantages in future so that they can work more. He laid stress on unity in works for the betterment of the country.

Several representatives from the government, development partners, NGOs, international NGOs, CSO, UN, youth organisations, volunteers and civil society members participated in the event.

The event was divided into four sessions – ‘Volunteerism to Rebuild the Nation’, ‘Climate Change & Youth Actions’, ‘Gender-Based Violence (GBV) & Women Empowerment and ‘Youth & Entrepreneurship’.

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