Staff Reporter

The national children, adolescent and youth welfare organization 'Chander Hat' on Thursday at a function at National Press Club has awarded 'Dadubhai Memorial Medal' to three eminent personalities for their outstanding contributions to different fields .

The organization has launched this medal for the first time to pay homage to the memory of late Rafiqul Haque Dadubhai, the founding president of Chander Hat.

Those who were awardeded the medal in three categories are : Former secretary and rhymer Farooq Hossain on rhyme literature, Engineer Md Monjur -Ul-Alam Chowdhury, Additional Director General ( RS) of Bangladesh Railway in song composition on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Saiful Alam, Editor of the daily Jugantar on journalism.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Hassan Mahmud was present as Chief Guest.

Speaking as the chief guest after the awarding of the medal, the Information and Broadcasting Minister said, 'Chander Hat' is an organization which has given birth to many talents in Bangladesh.

The role that Chander Hat has played over the last few decades in developing the talents of children and adolescents, in developing their minds, in making them literate is truly incomparable.

That is why I pay my deep respects to the memory of Rafiqul Islam Dadubhai, the founder of Chander Hat. Recalling his childhood, the minister said, "If I look back on my life, I must admit that writings on newspapers have played a vital role in shaping that life and bringing it to today's stage."

"For me, life is a struggle, a battle," he said. Believing in the struggle of life, winning the battle of life, overcoming obstacles to reach the goal — these are the children's organizations like Chander Hat, the way they played a role in the development of children and adolescents, but sadly, all these organizations are not as active as before. But there are organizations.

I think in today's context the need for all these organizations is much greater. The need for such an organization is greater than ever when children and adolescents are more likely to go astray.

It is seen that the boy is staying at home, eating at home, sleeping at home, but the parents did not notice that the boy had gone astray. He got involved in militancy through his mobile phone. At one point he became addicted to drugs while mingling with friends.

Hasan Mahmud said that when a child is engaged in creative work, creative work prevents him from going astray. That is why I think the need for such an organization is much greater than before.

"I personally think that the country is not formed only through material development," he said. He cited the example of Europe and North America, saying that Europe and North America were much more developed. But when boys and girls grow up, they no longer live with their parents. We want a humane state as well as a developed state for that. At the same time people will have a sense of love, humanity, a sense of patriotism. Only then will a state be formed.

It is not possible for me to change that state. Children and adolescents must be caught to form that state. It is necessary to form a state by combining them by awakening talent, values and patriotism, in order to form a developed nation. For this, organizations like Chander Hat are required.

The Information Minister requested the editors to give space for children’s write - ups as before at least once a week. Today two pages are printed for beauty treatment. Many more are printed in two pages. But I don't see pages in any magazine for children and teenagers. I think it is possible to get the kind of Bangladesh we want from the new generation if we leave space in the pages of newspapers for children and teenagers, the minister added..

Medal-winning Engineer Manjur- Ul - Alam Chowdhury in his response said, I am specially grateful to Chander Hat for recognisation of my contributions.

Mentioning that he got medal for his music composing about Bangabandhu, he said, Bangabandhu, Bangladesh, Liberation War, Birangana moved me deeply. For that I work in government service as well as Liberation War. When I was in charge of Syedpur, I built a monument called 'Indomitable Freedom' at Syedpur Railway Factory. I built it to commemorate the 1971 genocide at the Syedpur Factory. I have built a two-coach railway museum on Bangabandhu.

Mr Chowdhury said, I have written a song about Bangabandhu. I consider myself blessed to have been able to write this. It took three years to make this song. I think this song should reach millions of people. Because I have brought Bangabandhu in this song. He requested the Information Minister to promote the song.

Jugantar Editor Saiful Alam said, "This is what I made of Chander Hat today." I am grateful to the Moon Market for the medal that honored me. I would like to return this medal to Chander Hat Kei. It's yours.