Children wash hands marking the Global Handwashing Day at Mohammadpur Residential Model School and College in the city yesterday. Observed since 2008, the day calls for improved hygiene practices. Photo: Shawkat Jamil

Thousands of school children from different parts of the country yesterday pledged to wash their hands before taking foods and after defecation.
Local Government Division under the LGRD and Cooperatives Ministry with the support of Unicef and other partner organisations arranged the assembly of students on Residential Model School and College playground.
Some 46,712 students from different schools in the city gathered the ground to mark the third annual Global Handwashing Day, according to the organisers.
About 86,268 students across the country simultaneously washed their hands at 12:05pm yesterday, they said.
The students at the event were also taught how to wash hands hygienically.
"I have learned how to wash hands. Now, I will follow the method and suggest my family members to wash hands in the way," said Monir Hossain, a student of class three of Manik High School of Konapara in Demra,Dhaka.
Terming the programme an "unprecedented event," State Minister for LGRD Jahangir Kabir Nanok said the regular practice of hand washing in proper way helps reduce the spread of jaundice, diarrhoea, cholera and other diseases.
He hoped that the children will follow the method of washing hands.
Unicef Representative Carel de Rooy and representatives from other partner organsiations were present at the programme.