President M Abdul Hamid put importance on utilising immense energies and potentials of youth forces to build a developed 'Sonar Bangla'.
"Youth must be freed from the influence of bad culture with thinking in free way . . . They should be more kind and broadminded to attain the desired goal of country's hard-earned Independence", he said while addressing the fourth convocation of Islamic University (IU), Bangladesh, on the central cricket playground on the campus on Sunday.
The President urged teachers-students, researchers, guardians and all student bodies to make collective efforts reaching the benefit of 1971 Liberation War at people's doorsteps.
Terming the youth as the main force of a nation, he categorically said their energies and potentials would be utilized to build a developed "Sonar Bangla" as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
"Nation experienced different negative activities including intolerance, fanaticism, militancy and fundamentalism in educational institutions in past. These were emerged due to lack of freethinking and cultural practices", he observed.
Noting that the university is not only the centre of learning, rather it is the footrest of higher studies and research, the President said the education from the university is very significant to build young generation a worthy citizens, reports BSS.
President Hamid stressed the need for the practice of freethinking, discussion on various national and international issues, nation-building activities, contemporary thoughts, sports, culture and other creative activities alongside the academic curriculum.
"Creative activity not only make the students efficient but also enriches their intellectual spirit taking them out of the kiddle of localism", the President added.
Mentioning the longstanding communal harmony and co-existence of all faiths in the country he said the society and civilization were going ahead based on the customs of thousand years.
Referring to Bangabandhu's 'secular state' concept, Abdul Hamid said “we have to materialize his concept in a concerted effort in the greater interest of the country and its nation.”
"Nation expects that the young generation, being enriched with traditional values, history and customs, will play an important role in nation-building activities", the President hoped.
Abdul Hamid asked all to give up the tiny interest and make plan-wise hard labour to reach Bangladesh at the status of a developed country and international leadership as well.
"Be very positive and keep confidence in self-capability", the President advised the graduates and researchers, saying that they have many responsibilities for the country and mass people.