Young changemakers across the country will be recognised and honoured with the Joy Bangla Youth Award this year too. The sixth installment of the event is set for this Saturday, November 12. Young Bangla, the youth secretariat of the thinktank CRI, will recognise youths across the country who have positively transformed their communities through social initiatives. The award will be given away by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ICT Advisor and CRI Chairperson Sajeeb Wazed Joy. The entries received from all over the country were assessed by an eleven-member jury board who showered praises on the depth and dimension of the initiatives undertaken by the youths to turn around their communities. Liberation War Museum Trustee Mofidul Hoque said, "Being part of the jury board for the sixth installment of Joy Bangla Youth Award fills my heart with immense pleasure as it reflects on the mentality of youths with which they are working for the wellbeing of people. They are setting the precedence for harnessing technology for people, society, and education. At the same time, they are leaving no stone unturned to ensure women’s empowerment." "Not to be outdone by the overwhelming response last year, over 600 ambassadors of change applied this year. This award inspires the entire young generation of Bangladesh to positively impact their communities. This award, initiated through the prime minister, will go on as long as Bangladesh exists on this planet," said entrepreneur Swarnalata Roy. Read: Application rolls out for 6th Joy Bangla Youth Award Researcher Shahriar Rahman Caesar said, "I was a jury member both in 2021 and 2022. It was pretty challenging and interesting in both years. Throughout the country, our youths are motivating us by working untiringly, overcoming a world of challenges. I am proud of being part of this great occasion." Filmmaker Rezwan Shahriar Sumit said, "This year I have been endowed with this great opportunity to be a jury member. But, I waited with bated breath to know about the winners of this award even in the years when I was not officially involved in the process. This Joy Bangla Youth Award brings forth the untold stories of young changemakers. These youths are the country's future." "Being part of the jury, I came to know that youths are advancing Digital Bangladesh and they are coming from diverse backgrounds. Women's participation is also increasing. These developments give us positive hopes for the days to come," he added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday slammed those who still refuse to chant the national slogan ‘Joy Bangla’, the inspiration of the liberation war. “Those who still don’t chant the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan actually don’t believe in the independence of the country, the spirit of Liberation War and the ideology of independence of Bangladesh,” she told a discussion meeting virtually from her official residence Ganobbaban. Read:Good planning & democracy spur Bangladesh’s development, says Hasina Bangladesh Awami League (AL) arranged the discussion at Bangabandhu Mausoleum Complex, Tungipara in Gopalganj on the occasion of the 102nd birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children’s Day-2022. Chairing the discussion, Hasina, also the AL president, said the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan was once banned in the country and many AL leaders and activists lost lives for shouting this slogan and playing the historic 7th March speech of Bangabandhu at that time. She said the freedom fighters had earned independence and embraced martyrdom  chanting this slogan. But the clique of anti-liberation elements and killers banned the slogan, she added.  AL presidium members Shajahan Khan MP, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, joint secretaries Mahbubul Alam MP and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, religious Affairs secretary Sirajul Mostafa, agriculture and cooperatives affairs secretary Faridunnahar Laily, organising secretary Mirza Azam MP and AL Gopalganj district unit secretary Mahbub Ali Khan also spoke at the discussion conducted by publicity and publication secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap MP. Hasina urged all to stay vigilant so that a vested quarter can no longer spoil the achievements of the nation. “So, we’ll have to keep up the present trend of development by taking the people with us,” she said. The PM asked the AL leaders and activists to continue working for development engaging the people in every stage. Read: Continuous democratic process is behind country’s unprecedented development, says Hasina in UAE She also told her party members to stand beside the poor and homeless people. She also asked them to work for saving nature and the environment. She laid emphasis on teaching the real history of the nation and the country to the children to ignite patriotism among them.   “None can wipe out the truths. It has been proved today,” said Hasina. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said ‘Joy Bangla’ has got recognition of the national slogan proving that no sacrifice goes in vain. “Today the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan is for all, the people of this country, the victorious nation and the Bengali nation…… It has proved that no sacrifice goes in vain,” she said  The prime minister was addressing a programme titled ‘Joy Bangla’ at a city hotel, virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) arranged the programme to mark the announcement of ‘Joy Bangla’ as the national slogan.  Hasina said Bangabandhu concluded his historic 7th March speech by chanting the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan that means he had been quite sure that Bengalis would gain victory. Also read: Good planning & democracy spur Bangladesh’s development, says Hasina “This ‘Joy Bangla’ was once banned in the country, which is very unfortunate,” she said. But the people who belong to Awami League or followers of the ideology of Bangabandhu, freedom fighters and believers in the spirit of liberation war upheld the slogan, she said. “Obstacles came. We had to hear many insulting words and face various criticisms. Since we’ve been able to keep up this true (words) even after these, it has been recognised as the national slogan today,” said the PM.  She said this slogan had helped achieve the victory by inspiring the people of the country to sacrifice their lives. “Inspired by this slogan, the people had written with blood that they wanted to achieve victory,” she said.  "With this ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan, we want to reach it (message) to the people of the world that we are victorious nation, we gained the victory, we don’t move downing our heads, and every Bengali will move raising head, no matter where he or she stays,” she said. Talking about the difficult days after the 1975 assassination, Hasina said had her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, the only other survivor, been beside her in the function, she would have been very glad. “She (Sheikh Rehana) is a big strength for me,” the PM added. Also read: Continuous democratic process is behind country’s unprecedented development, says Hasina in UAE Noting that the Joy Bangla slogan was an immense source of inspiration for freedom fighters in the Liberation War, she said this slogan had given so much strength to them that they didn’t hesitate to face the foes even for a single moment and to shed their blood in creating the way for the victory. “But it is unfortunate that the slogan, which had given us so much inspiration (in the liberation war) was banned when we were victorious nation,” said Sheikh Hasina. The prime minister formally inaugurated the ‘Joy Bangla’ festival arranged on this occasion. She also unveiled the cover of a book titled ‘Muktidata Sheikh Mujib’ and launched an album of seven patriotic songs in the function. PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman also spoke at the function presided over by BAB Chairman Md Nazrul Islam Mazumder. The Cabinet Division on March 2 last issued a notification declaring ‘Joy Bangla,’ the main inspiring slogan in the freedom struggle and the war of liberation, as the national slogan following the cabinet’s decision taken on February 20 last. Earlier, the High Court asked the government to take steps for ensuring the use of ‘Joy Bangla’ as the national slogan.

The government has issued a notification declaring 'Joy Bangla' as the national slogan of Bangladesh. The Cabinet Division issued the notification on Wednesday. According to the notification, officials of all government offices should chant the slogan 'Joy Bangla' at the end of all national day celebrations and other functions of the state and the government. Besides, teachers and students should say the slogan 'Joy Bangla' at the end of daily gatherings and for concluding speeches at meetings and seminars in all educational institutions. Read: ‘Joy Bangla’ to be national slogan: HC Earlier on February 20, the Cabinet decided to make 'Joy Bangla' the national slogan. The decision came after the High Court on March 10, 2020, declared ‘Joy Bangla’ to be the national slogan of the country. Father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his historic ‘March 7 speech’ in 1971 concluded his speech chanting ‘Joy Bangla’. ‘Joy Bangla’ was also the main slogan during the Liberation War in 1971. Freedom fighters made the supreme sacrifice shouting ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan after being captured by Pakistan occupation forces.

Young Bangla on Monday handed over the Joy Bangla Youth Award, the country's best recognition for young changemakers, to 15 youth-led organizations for the social changes they spearheaded. The event took place on the ground of Sheikh Hasina National Youth Center in Savar amid strict safety measures against the Covid-19. Though Joy Bangla Youth Award 2018 had been hosted at the auditorium of the same centre, this time the playground with a wider space was chosen to ensure safety from Coronavirus. This year, the hype of the Joy Bangla Youth Award was on full blast as it was made to coincide with the country's 50th year of independence whose watchword was the slogan Joy Bangla. Recorded speeches of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy were aired during the event. Radwan Mujib Siddiq, a trustee of the ruling Awami League's research wing Centre for Research & Information (CRI), handed over the award to 15 youth-led organizations, recognizing their contribution to their communities. Since its inception in 2014, Young Bangla, the youth secretariat of CRI, has been awarding the youths who spearheaded social changes in different parts of the country, even in remote areas. A couple of past awardees, equipped with the grooming and networking provided by JBYA, later achieved International recognitions. This year Young Bangla received entries from a total of 750 youth-led organizations, out of which 31 were primarily nominated. Among them, 15 finally claimed the award. The winning organisations are Dhrubotara Youth Development Foundation (DYDF), the Tech Academy, Asmani Jubo nari Foundation, Amal Foundation, Third EYE, EcoVation Bangladesh, Bangladesher Dushprappo Chobi Somogro, Steps Ahead, Moner School, TransEnd, Reflective Teens, GenLab, Diner Alo Hijra Unnyon Mohila Songstha, Bangladesh Tea Community Student Youth Council and Medhabi Kallyan Sangstha (MKS).

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has extended his thanks to British Bangladeshis for everything they have done in their struggle against Covid and said they look forward to the next 50 years of friendship between Britain and Bangladesh. “Let’s look forward to the next 50 years of friendship between Britain and Bangladesh. Joy Bangla,” he said in a video message as they also celebrated the Golden Anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence. Read: Bangladesh saw a decline in terrorist activity in 2020: US report The British Prime Minister mentioned that just this week the UK donated over 4 million AstraZeneca vaccines to Bangladesh through COVAX, the vaccination alliance. “So, get boosted now for yourself, for your friends and your family,” he said, noting that at this moment thousands of “fantastic” doctors and nurses of Bangladeshi heritage are working in their NHS (National Health Service), providing care and comfort and saving many lives. Prime Minister Boris said the best thing they can all do to support their efforts and keep them safe is to get “booster” jabs as soon as possible. “So please go online and book your booster jab to protect yourself and everyone else from the Omicron variant,” he said. Read: An unbreakable bond forged with blood, sacrifice in 1971: Kovind The British Prime Minister said the faster they are all protected, the faster they can overcome this new threat. “And press ahead with building back better and building back greener. Britain will do that in partnership with Bangladesh in the spirit of 50 years of friendship,” he said.

The historic  7th March, a memorable day in the history of Bangalis’ long arduous freedom struggle, will be observed  across the country on Sunday in a befitting manner.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday unveiled the covers of two books on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh MujiburRahman.