Bangladesh News

Shaheed Suhrawardy National Indoor Stadium was resounding with loud cheers and jubilation for the “nation builders of tomorrow” as The Daily Star yesterday honoured 953 O and A level students for outstanding achievements, including 53 who ranked among the world’s top scorers, in the June 2007-June 2008 academic session.

Presence of teachers, friends and families marked the colourful function where the outstanding achievers were awarded medals and certificates of excellence. The audience burst into applauses with the announcement of the name of each student. Awardees from 56 English medium schools gathered at the venue.

The four-hour-long event at the indoor stadium in Mirpur was sponsored by Brac Bank, Grameenphone and Edexcel International.

A musical presentation by a choir formed with students during intervals made the award giving ceremony lively.

Since 1999 The Daily Star has been awarding students who secure at least six A’s in two consecutive sittings in the O level and three A’s in the A level exams.

This year 653 O level students and 300 A level students received the awards.

Among the 53 students who scored highest in their subjects in the world, 34 completed O level dominating a diverse set of disciplines from economics to English language and 19 completed A level, many of them clinching the honour in accounting alone.

Eminent educationist and writer Prof Muhammed Zafar Iqbal presented the certificates and medals to the future nation builders. All the students were also presented the “History of the Liberation War”, a book by Zafar Iqbal.

Speaking as the chief guest, Prof Iqbal called on the achievers to build the nation as the best nation in the world using their knowledge and merit. “Our generation gave you the country through a bloody liberation war and you have to make this country the best one in the world,” he said.

He also said the English medium schools should take special initiative to focus on the country’s history and rich cultural heritage.

Addressing as the special guest, British High Commissioner Stephen Evans said the best asset of Bangladesh is its people and the country would not only benefit economically but also move forward socially if the people are given the best education and proper training.

“Ask not what your country would do for you, but ask what you would do for the country,” Evans said quoting late American president John F Kennedy.

David Davies, relationship manager of Edexcel International, Syed Mahbubur Rahman, deputy managing director of Brac Bank, and Oddvar Hesjedal, chief executive officer of Grameenphone, also spoke at the function.

They congratulated the students on their brilliant feat and asked them to work together for the country and uphold the country’s history and heritage.

Oddvar Hesjedal asked the young generation of nation builders to put emphasis on technology during their educational career since it is “one of the best ways to achieve modern skills”.

Syed Mahbubur Rahman stressed the need to have good knowledge on the country’s history, culture and heritage besides institutional education so that the students do not get embarrassed while representing the nation globally.

David Davies said the performance of Bangladeshi students has improved a lot and “now we are confident about giving them responsibility”.

Calling upon the students to love the country and its people, The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam said, “You are the most privileged ones to have got the best education and so you have great responsibility to the nation.

“You must strive to become that human being who gives out love, not hatred; who brightens not only your own path but also that of the others,” Anam said.

He said, “The country faces numerous challenges of poverty, malnutrition, over population and lack of resources. But each challenge is an opportunity for us to prove our ability to overcome it.

“In spite of the challenges we have many glories. We have an independent country; we have a country that practises democracy. This we must inculcate in our hearts,” he said. “Unless you love and empathise with your people, unless you love your country, your education is not going to be complete.”

Urging the students to seek the best knowledge and acquire the best skills, he said at the end of the day this knowledge and skills must be used in the service of the people.

Rumana Fouzia Choudhury of Sunbeams, who received 11 A’s in O level in one sitting, and Risalat Khan of European Standard, who got five A’s in A level, spoke at the event on behalf of their batches.