The Ministry of Youth and Sports has presented the “Sheikh Hasina Youth Volunteer Award 2022” to 11 individuals for their extraordinary contributions in various social fields.

State Minister Md Zahid Ahsan Russel presented the award to them on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Osmani Smriti Auditorium in the capital Dhaka on Sunday.

However, the prime minister attended the program virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.

Each of the 11 awardees was given Tk100,000 and a memento.

Among them, Shariatpur resident Masum Alam and Netrokona resident Kamrun Nahar Lipi received the award for their outstanding contribution in the youth development and employment category.

Meanwhile, JAAGO Foundation Executive Director Karvi Raksand and PEN Foundation's Meghna Khatun received the award for their contribution in the education, science and technology category.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday issued separate messages greeting the winners of the award, reports BSS.

President M Abdul Hamid, in his message, said: "I welcome the initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to award the 'Sheikh Hasina Youth Volunteer Award 2022' to encourage youths to participate in philanthropic and voluntary activities."

The head of the state also congratulated those who are going to be conferred with the award this year in recognition of setting a unique example in voluntary work in the social sector.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: "I am happy to know that the 'Sheikh Hasina Youth Volunteer Award' is being presented for the second time under the initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports."

"On this occasion, I extend my best wishes and congratulations to the youths of the country, all the energetic youths who participated in the competition, and the winners," the premier said.

The greatest Bangali of all time, Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took multifaceted youth welfare-oriented programs following the country's independence to involve the youths in national development, she said.

After assuming power in 1996, the Awami League-led government followed the footsteps of the father of the nation and took various initiatives at various levels to develop the youths as skilled human resources and connect them to the development of the country by creating various opportunities for them, she continued.

"As a legacy of the glorious rich history of the past, we believe that our youths will play an important role in building a developed and prosperous golden Bangladesh as dreamt by the father of the nation through the implementation of 'Vision 2041'," she said.

Both the president and the prime minister wished for the overall success of all programs undertaken on the occasion of the Sheikh Hasina Youth Volunteer Award-2022.