Let children run riot to explore potential

Dhaka outer division competition of ‘Bashundhara Cement Children-Adolescent Art Competition-2012’ was held on the level 7 and 8 of Bashundhara City Shopping Mall in the capital Friday. Bashundhara Cement, a subsidiary of country’s largest business conglomerate, Bashundhara Group, has been organising the countrywide art contest to mark the 41st years of independence. The competition of the Dhaka outer division contenders was held at the venue where district-level winners were awarded certificates. Editor of Kaler Kantho Imdadul Haque Milon, also a noted writer, attended the ceremony as chief guest while Prof Syed Abul Barq Alvi, an adjudicator of the competition, as special guest. Milon said children should be given opportunity to explore their full potential so that they can be noted personalities by growing themselves in an ingenious atmosphere. The credit of children’s success really goes to his or her parents because they want their children to do better, he added. Prof Alvi said participation in a competition is important than winning prizes. If organisations like Bashundhara Group come forward to let children take part in creative works, the young generation will have scope to grow creatively, he added. Saiful Islam Helali, chief marketing officer of Bashundhara Cement, chaired the event where Maj (retd) Shafiqur Rahman, senior general manager (admin and security) of Bashundhara City, and Khandaker Kingshuk Hossain, deputy general manager (cement), also spoke. The competition is being held in three separate categories ‘Ka’, ‘Kha’ and ‘Ga’. ‘Ka’ group comprise students from play group to class two, ‘Kha’ from class three to class five and ‘Ga’ from class six to class eight. The initial, divisional and national levels have been designed with separate subject matters. Completing the district-level prize distribution ceremonies, the divisional-level competition has begun Friday. According to the groups in final stages, the first prize will be a laptop computer, 2nd prize is Tk 10,000 in cash and 3rd prize is Tk 5,000. Sources said a total of 30 prizes will be distributed among the winners. Besides, the winners are also being given certificates and crests.