Every school will have two scout teams: PM

Stressing the need for expanding activities of the Scouts in every school from primary to secondary level, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government is always ready to take more effective and sustainable measures to support Bangladesh Scouts.

While inaugurating the weeklong 11th National Rover Moot at Manikdah Housing Area in Gopalganj, Hasina hoped that the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education would take steps for expanding cub scouting in primary schools.

"Every educational institution will have at least two cub-scout teams, two scout teams and two rover scout teams," she said urging the scout leaders to take steps to increase the number of scouts besides maintaining their standard.

The present number of scouts in the country is 15 lakh and Bangladesh Scouts has set target to raise this number to 21 lakh by 2021, said the premier, suggesting that the scouts should motivate people to adopt economical use of water, electricity, gas and other services.

The Rover Moot has begun with the theme "Shantimoy Jibon, Unnata Desh" (Peaceful Life, Developed Country) and where some 10,000 rover scouts from Saarc (The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) and the Asia-Pacific region have participated.

She said participation of girl scouts should be strengthened and standard scout units for girls have to be introduced in all girls' schools and institutions of co-education. She appreciated the services of the rover scouts for downtrodden people during natural calamities, cyclones, fire incident and severing winter.

The "main arena" of the moot, set up in Manikdah Housing Area, has been named after Bangabandhu and the "camp-in-camp", set up in Tungipara, has been named after Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib.

Later, the prime minister unveiled a commemorative postal stamp and first day cover on the occasion of the Rover Moot.