President Abdul Hamid on Thursday asked the concerned authorities to take proper preparation at the right time to reduce the risk of disasters and subsequent loss of lives and property to keep the country’s progress on track."If proper preparation is taken at the right time, it is possible to reduce the risk of these disasters and reduce the loss of lives and property," he said at the inauguration of the 51st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Bangladesh Scouts at the Osmani memorial auditorium in the city. He said Bangladesh is prone to various natural disasters every year due to its geographical location. The negative effects of global warming and climate change have created a different reality globally today, he said.Thanking the scouts for their volunteer job in all disaster risk reduction initiatives in Bangladesh, he said the members of Bangladesh Scouts are making an important contribution to the country's disaster management by participating in rescue, relief and rehabilitation work with the local peopleHe said the government has set a target to make Bangladesh a developed, prosperous and smart country by 2041. As a result of formulation and implementation of contemporary plans of the government, Bangladesh has already been promoted from a less developed country to a developing country. He also asked the new generation to be developed as skilled and humane peopleto continue this progress of development. For this purpose, the government has extended its full cooperation to strengthen the scout movement in Bangladesh, he said.Hamid emphasised that the young should know the real history of the freedom struggle and liberation war. "We must learn to pay due respect to those who sacrificed their lives for independence. Bangladesh has a glorious history and tradition. You should also know them," he also said.He said it is possible to know many things about the world instantly at home. "But first of all, you have to know about your own country with the help of information technology,' he added. Chief Scouts of Bangladesh Hamid said construction of scout buildings and training centres in all districts and upazilas in the country, formation of two teams in each educational institution and the implementation of instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina regarding providing scout training to all students should be taken.Scouting will help the next generation to become skilled human resources to lead the ongoing progress of Bangladesh, he added.A total of 626 scouts earned the President's Scout Award in 2022. The President also extended his congratulations to the recipients of the Silver Tiger and Silver Hilsa Awards and other awards in 2022 in recognition of their unique contribution to the development and expansion of Bangladesh Scouts. President of Bangladesh Scouts Abul Kalam Azad, Camp Chief and Chief National Commissioner Dr. Mozammel Haque Khan also spoke on the occasion.