Cox’s Bazar, 9 December 2019. Today, COAST organized a special student rally in Cox’s Bazar with the participation of around 300 students from 25 educational institutions of Ukhia and Teknaf Upazilas of Cox’s Bazar. The principal aim of this rally was to encourage students to set proper career goals, provide guidance on reaching that goal, and to be aware of their rights and to inspire their respect for the rights of others. From that rally organized by the COAST Trust, ‘Human Being is Above All’, the speakers advised the students to choose a well-planned career to become patriotic citizens.
Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mahbub Alam Talukder was present as the Chief Guest at the event organized at the BIAM Auditorium. Assistant Commissioner (NGO Cell) Zainat Shahid Pinki chaired the event. Cox’s Bazar Municipal Mayor Mujibur Rahman, Ukhia Upazila Council Chairman Hamidul Haque Chowdhury, UNHCR Cox’s Bazar Head of Operations Marin Din Kajdomcaj, Cox’s Bazar head of UN Food and Agriculture Organization Peter Anglew, Head of UN Women in Cox’s Flora Macual, Head of UNFPA in Cox’s Bazar Rosalinda Raphael, President of Cox’s Bazar District Secondary Teacher Association Hossainul Islam Matabar, Assistant Public Prosecutor of Cox’s Bazar District Women and Child Abuse Tribunal Advocate Shakir A. Kausar, Editor of Vpoce of Ukhiya Noor Mohammad Shikdar, General Secretary of Ukhia Press Club Kamar Uddin Mukul, Nurul Islam Chowdhury Technical School and College student Sharmin Sultana Priya, Teknaf Kanjarapara High School students Sharmin Sultana. Cox’s Bazar Regional Team Leader of COAST Jahangir Alam moderated the event. Awards were distributed among the winners in various competitions at the Upazila level, and they handed special testimonials out to the participants in various sessions on rights.
Assistant Director of COAST Trust Md. Mujibul Haque Munir conducted a brief discussion on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He points out that this declaration teaches us that all people, regardless of religion, have equal rights. To ensure a peaceful society-state-world, the rights of all must be respected. In a welcome address, COAST Executive Director Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said, the COAST organized human rights sessions, essay contests, debate competitions, present lectures, sports, and cultural events to raise awareness about human rights among the students in 20 educational institutions in Ukhia and Teknaf for six months. Through this kind of competition, the interest and creativity of the students are developing in contemporary subjects. They are gaining knowledge, developing their intellectual thinking, presentation style, confidence, and above all leadership qualities. We are giving them awards and certificates for encouraging them and dreaming of being enlightened people. This rally and discussion was the culmination of those efforts to uphold the human rights.
UNHCR Cox’s Bazaar Head of Operation Marine Dean Marin Din Kajdomcaj said, the people of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, set a great precedent for the rest of the world by providing shelter to the deprived Rohingya. Those young people today are our future. To establish oneself as a citizen, the younger generation has to take education, choose a disciplined life.
Cox’s Bazar District Secondary Teachers Association president Hossainul Islam Matbar said that, students should prepare for constructive work-life from school life. This requires proper planning and effort to implement that plan. Ukhia Upazila Parishad Chairman Hamidul Haque Chowdhury said, “It is true that the people of Ukhia Teknaf are suffering a lot in the coming of the Rohingya, but in the parable of our honorable Prime Minister of humanity, the people of Cox’s Bazar can be proud that we have set an example in the world to protect human rights. Cox’s Bazar Municipality Mayor Mujibur Rahman said, “ The Rohingya influx has damaged our children’s education, but everyone has come forward to overcome that loss.To be established in life, one has to move forward by dealing with adverse problems.”
Assistant Commissioner of the Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Office (NGO Cell) Zinat Shahid Pinki said, “During my student life, I used to sit in the audience’s queue and look at the stage of the guests. I have worked hard to fulfill that dream, studied, and I can sit on the stage in front of you today. So I would say, from now on, have the courage dream. The best time to create life is student life.”
Refugee Relief and Refugee Commissioner Mr. Mahbubul Alam Talukder said that people should care for people. The people of Bangladesh, especially the people of Ukhia Teknaf, have called upon the Honorable Prime Minister as a humanitarian Bangladesh as the entire world knows our country today. Each crisis brings some opportunity. The Rohingya crisis also brings us some opportunities, we should utilize these. Guardians also have to play a cautious role in shaping the lives of young students.
After the rally, UNHCR Cox’s Bazar Head of Operations Marin Din Kajdomcaj, Cox’s Bazar head of UN Food and Agriculture Organization Peter Anglew, Head of UN Women in Cox’s Flora Macual, Head of UNFPA in Cox’s Bazar Rosalinda Raphael took part in an interactive session, they took part in separate group discussion with students and they answered different questions of the students. Students wanted to know about their career, education system, culture, life struggle.
Press Release [Bangla] [English]
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