Rongpur Bureau: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Naib-e-Ameer and Rangpur-2 (Badarganj-Taragang) constituency lawmaker ATM Azharul Islam has said that if every mother is educated, the entire nation will become educated and prosperous.

He made the remarks while addressing a reception for students who achieved GPA-5 in the SSC, Dakhil and equivalent examinations, organised by the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir`s Badarganj upazila unit at the Badarganj Upazila Auditorium at around 11:30am on Saturday.

At the outset of his speech, ATM Azharul Islam congratulated the students for their outstanding results and thanked their teachers and guardians for their time and support behind the students` achievements.

Referring to Napoleon`s famous saying, “Give me an educated mother, and I will give you an educated nation,” he said children receive much of their early education from their mothers.

“An educated mother tries to educate her children. If every mother is educated, the entire nation will become educated and prosperous,” he said.

He urged mothers present at the programme to ensure that their daughters receive proper educational opportunities so that they can develop their talents and contribute to their families, society and the country.

Referring to the educational situation in the region, he said the literacy rate remains relatively low and interest in education is also limited. He stressed the need to move beyond a mindset that places little importance on education and economic advancement.

Addressing the GPA-5 achievers, the Jamaat leader said their excellent results were only the beginning of their journey.

“Getting GPA-5 is just the beginning, like a flower bud. You cannot be called talented merely by looking at the bud; you have to maintain the continuity of your achievement,” he said.

He said true merit would be reflected when students continued to develop their abilities and eventually contributed to their families, society and the state through their work and achievements.

He urged the students to behave respectfully with their parents and teachers and to follow their respective religions. Moral education, he said, would help them develop good character and remain focused on their studies.

He also called upon guardians to remain vigilant so that their children did not misuse technology or suffer harm because of it.

ATM Azharul Islam expressed concern over poor academic results at some educational institutions, questioning the role of institutions where no student passes examinations.

He urged teachers at poorly performing institutions to fulfil their responsibilities sincerely, saying they must remain accountable for the duties entrusted to them.

“Teachers receive salaries from the government every month. They must ask themselves whether they are fulfilling the responsibilities for which they are paid. Even if they are not accountable to the government, they will be accountable to Allah,” he said.

He urged teachers to consider students as their own children and teach them with dedication.

He also called on the government to strengthen and make teacher-training programmes more effective, saying proper training would enable teachers to provide better education to students.

The programme was chaired by Badarganj Upazila Chhatra Shibir President Md Abdullah Al Aman and moderated by its Secretary Zakaria Al Hossain.

Among others, Badarganj Upazila Jamaat Ameer Maulana Kamruzzaman Kabir, Naib-e-Ameer Shah Muhammad Rustam Ali, Secretary Maulana Minhajul Islam, Rangpur Metropolitan Chhatra Shibir President Md Anisur Rahman, district President Hamidur Rahman and former law secretary of Rangpur Metropolitan Chhatra Shibir Al Amin Kabir addressed the programme.

More than a hundred students received gifts and commemorative crests at the event.

Earlier in the morning, ATM Azharul Islam visited a weekly free medical service and medicine distribution programme at the office of the Islamic Library and Social Welfare Organisation on Station Road in Badarganj, which is being operated under his management.

During the visit, he gave overall guidance, enquired about the patients who had come to receive treatment and instructed the doctors to ensure proper services.