Hopes, here
It is a time for change and the young minds who gathered at the Shaheed Suhrawardy National Indoor Stadium yesterday showed every sign that they would be the change- makers of tomorrow, overcoming all hurdles -- be it political or financial.
Recognised for their academic brilliance at The Daily Star's O- and A-level Award Presentation Ceremony, 1,760 awardees, who took the international exams in June 2013-2014 session amid political unrest, promised to take the country to a new height.
The 16th annual award ceremony also bestowed special recognition on 180 students -- 52 for achieving the highest scores in the world in different subjects and 128 for outperforming the rest in Bangladesh.
Presence of teachers, friends and families marked the colourful function where the outstanding achievers received medals and certificates of excellence. The stadium in the capital's Mirpur resounded with loud cheers and jubilation while names of the awardees were being announced.
The Daily Star initiated this unique annual event in 1999. This year 1,224 students who got at least six A's in O-level and 356 who received three A's in A-level were awarded.
Brac Bank and Monash University, Malaysia were the celebration partners while Edexcel, Independent University, Bangladesh, and Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services were the associate sponsors of the event. Channel i was the broadcast sponsor.
Awardees from 73 English medium schools from across the country gathered in front of the podium decorated with red and green of our national flag. Starting with a documentary on the glorious history of the nation, music and dance performances by students of several schools made the ceremony lively.
Selfie booths set up by Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services on the premises of the indoor stadium was a special attraction in this year's event.
Speaking as the chief guest, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said, "We are proud of such excellent achievements made by our children. I envisage these achievers leading not only the country but also the world."
Congratulating the award-winners, he hoped that the achievers would prepare themselves to take the country forward with their leadership in order to materialise the dreams of the Liberation War.
Mentioning that the number of girls is higher than boys at primary and secondary levels, he said, "We want to provide a world-class education to our children so that they can acquire knowledge and develop their skills in technology.
"We want our new generation to become complete human beings imbued with moral values, honesty and patriotism," Nahid said.
The presence of ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan made the event extra special for the audience. They clapped, cheered and chanted the name of Bangladesh Cricket Team's vice-captain as he walked to the podium. His appearance was kept as a surprise which added some extra glamour to the event.
"We need to improve and do well in all fields of education," said Shakib.
He thanked The Daily Star for organising such an inspiring event and shared memories of his school days with the audience.
The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam said Bangladesh has come a long way and made tremendous progress in agriculture, human resources, commerce and human development indices.
"However, much remains to be done and that is what we now have to work hard for," he said.
He said the awardees will seek the best knowledge and acquire the best skills abroad, but the knowledge and skills must be used in the service of the people of Bangladesh.
"You have achieved great things, but your greatest achievements will be building the country that has nurtured you," Anam said.
Urging them to return to the motherland, he said, "You are the future nation builders, so do not underestimate the value of serving your own country."
The Daily Star editor also urged the parents to inculcate in their children some fundamental values -- tolerance, democracy and curiosity.
Special guest of the programme Robert Winnington Gibson, the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, said the best resource of the country is its people and of those people, the young are outstanding.
He said to become an Asian powerhouse, the country needs rapid economic and social development in which education is the underpinning factor.
He urged the students to be inspired, bold and daring and pursue world-class education so that they could be the engine to the development of the nation.
Thanking the British Council in conducting the exams despite many obstacles, Gibson asserted that despite speculations, the spring and summer sessions of O- and A-level examinations would take place in Bangladesh.
"They will not take place overseas. They will take place here," he said repeatedly.
Speaking on behalf of the achievers, Shah Habibur Rahman, who got five A*s (stars) in his A-level exams from Manarat International School and College, said Bangladesh was not the most conducive place on the planet for educational grooming.
"Riots, strikes, exam postponement and cancellations – you name it! But instead of demoralising you, these obstacles only help your spirits soar because you don't let the intimidation win over you," he said.
"You soldier through the academic rigor although you happen to be someone from the tiniest part of the globe, whose voice would never be heard otherwise," Habibur said, expressing his gratitude to the examination authorities and The Daily Star.
Mahin AR Rahman of Mastermind thanked his family and teachers for his outstanding performance in the O-level examinations in which he obtained 11 A*s in one sitting.
"We never know what the future holds for us. In which case a great man once said, 'The best way to predict the future is to invent it'," he said. "They say success is not final and failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts."
Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing director and CEO of Brac Bank Ltd, said the achievers have made the country proud.
"Learning is like rowing a boat upstream. If you stop rowing the boat, you will fall behind," he said.
Simon Young, regional director of Pearson Edexcel Asia, said, "Your success will inspire, motivate and help shape the future of generations to come."
He urged the students to come back and use their knowledge and experience obtained from their studies abroad in the development of the country.
Prof Sadequr Rahman, school of science, Monash University Malaysia, Prof M Omar Rahman, vice-chancellor of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), and Sandeep Gupta, general manager of Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services, also spoke at the programme.
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