"I hope, the scouts will keep up their active role in raising awareness against drugs, terrorism, militancy, child-marriage and fanaticism as they do always," he said.
The President was speaking at the inaugural programme of the 9th National Cub Camporee held at National Scout Training Centre at Mouchak, Gazipur.
Terming the scouts as future leaders of the nation, he said, "You’ll build a hunger- and poverty-free, secular Bangladesh which Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had dreamt of.”
Mentioning that there is no alternative to hard work and practice, Abdul Hamid said, "Scouting teaches students to be good citizens alongside their academic activities. So, scouting has to be utilised for serving the country."
"National development will be accelerated if the education of scouting is reflected on individual, family and social lives," he added.
He also urged them to come forward to assist in relief work during flood, cyclone, building collapse, fire and other natural disasters.
Hamid said the government has taken many initiatives like Vision 2021, Vision 2041 and Delta Plan-2100 to make the country prosperous and developed one in 2041, and attain the Sustainable Goals of Development (SDG)-2030.
Around 9,000 cub scouts of Naval, Air, Railway and community-based units of all schools in every upazila is participating in the campaign. Each unit comprises six members and a unit leader.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, President of Bangladesh Scouts Abul Kalam Azad, Bangladesh Scouts chief national commissioner and the Anti-Corruption Commission commissioner Md Mozammel Haque Khan also spoke at the programme.
The President, also the Chief of Scouts, opened a commemorative stamp on the occasion of Camporee. The President's Scouts Award was also distributed among 48 scouts while the President's Rover Scout among four.
Secretaries concerned to the President were also present at the programme.