Brighten country through your brilliance

"If you grow up properly, we will become an enlightened nation in the days ahead. Your task is to be mindful to your studies, while at the same time, you will have to pursue creative intelligence and hone your genius," the Prime Minister advised the children.

She was addressing a prize giving ceremony of Nutun Kuri National Competition 2005 at Bangladesh Television auditorium yesterday.

Referring to the nation's rich culture, she said it will be the responsibility of the children to uphold and protect that heritage in future.

Some 242 boys and girls, out of over 17,000 participants, came out as winners in 20 categories of events staged for the Nutun Kuri National Competition 2005, oraganised by Bangladesh Television.

The Prime Minister distributed prizes among the winners.

Referring to the Independence and National Day, Khaleda said the country earned the independence with the sacrifice of many lives while millions of people had to bear

untold hardship and sufferings during the War of Liberation.

"Now this country is ours. There is none today to dominate or rule us," the PM said, adding that the responsibility of all citizens of this free nation has increased with achieving our independence.

She said none from outside will come here for work for our progress. "Our national progress will have to be achieved by ourselves. If we can do that and if the country develops, our independence will be meaningful," she said.

Ministers, MPs, artistes, cultural personalities, distinguished personalities and child artistes and their guardians attended the function.

Khaleda urged all to be dutiful and to perform their responsibilities bestowed on them by independence. She underlined the need for maintaining peace, discipline and punctuality in all spheres of national life.

Information Minister M Shamsul Islam, Deputy Minister for Information Abdus Salam Pintu, Information Secretary Mohammad Hyder Ali and BTV Director General AKM Hanif also spoke at the function.