President Iajuddin Ahmed called Sunday for properly grooming children through developing their latent talents for the welfare of the country and nation, reports UNB. Inaugurating Bangladesh Children Festival 2006 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, the President also called for forming a social movement against child labour. "It is our moral obligation to ensure children's rights and their security in society," he told the function. Minister for Women and Children Affairs Khurshid Zahan Haque attended the programme as the special guest. The festival was jointly organised by Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and Bangladesh Shishu Academy. This year's slogan of the festival is - 'We will build the country of dreams'. At the outset, the President thanked the organisers for contributing to children's welfare, including protecting their rights and creating congenial environment for bringing them up as ideal citizens. He observed prosperity lies in children which could be tapped through ensuring proper care and environment for them. He termed family as the 'secured shelter' for children and 'first school of development' and said, "That's why families have to give importance on their physical and mental development." Iajuddin said the whole world is very much aware about proper development of the children at present and Bangladesh is no exception. He mentioned that Bangladesh is one of the 22 countries to have signed the Children Rights Convention in 1990. He also mentioned that this country also supports UN Children Rights Convention, National Children Convention and all related national and international laws, policies and conventions for the welfare of the children. The President appreciated the role of Bangladesh Shishu Academy, established in 1976 at the initiative of President Ziaur Rahman, aiming to explore children's latent talent. He stressed family awareness for expediting implementation of the children's rights. He appreciated different government programmes, including supplying primary textbooks to the students for free and stipend for girls which play vital role in their development.
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