Online Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday reiterated her call to the world leaders to come forward to stop the ongoing wars and arm races for the sake of the global welfare.

“The wars and arms race can’t bring the welfare of the people,” she said referring to Russia-Ukraine war and Tuesday’s bombing of a Palestine hospital that caused huge casualties.

The premier made the call while addressing the inauguration of Sheikh Russel Day-2023 and the awarding-ceremony of Sheikh Russel Medal-2023 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre here in the city.

The event was organised to mark the 60th birthday of Sheikh Russel, the youngest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Russel was one of the martyrs of the August 15 tragedy when he was just 10 years old.

Hasina said the children and women are the worst victims of the wars.  Now Israel has started attack on Palestine. Many children were killed in Tuesday’s bombing attack on a hospital. The bloodstained images of children were seen there. Children were also killed in Israel, she added.

She said they can understand the pain and sufferings of the people who are losing their parents and children in the wars as they — two sisters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana— had to lead such life and stay as refugees in foreign lands after 1975 bloodbath.

“So, we don’t want war. I call upon … to stop the war,” said the prime minister.

She said the money spent for arms production and races should be used for ensuring food, healthcare and development of the world’s children. “It is our demand. I also demand it,” she added.

“We want peace. Because, peace brings development and war causes destruction. We don’t want destruction, rather want development and peace,” she said, adding that Bangladesh has always been working for peace.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak presided over the event, while ICT Division Secretary Md. Shamsul Arefin, acting president of Sheikh Russel Jatiyo Shishu Kishore Parishad Secretary Chowdhury Nafiz Sharafat, its secretary general KM Shahidullah, organizing secretary Fariduddin Ahmed Ratan and child speaker Amira Nayer Chowdhury spoke on the occasion.

A video message from Indian Colonel (retd) Ashok Kumar Tara, who had a good relation with Sheikh Russel, a video documentary on Sheikh Russel and a theme song marking Sheikh Russel Day-2023 were played at the event, moderated by organising secretary of the parishad Barrister Jahangir Hossain Rony.

In the function, the premier opened a number of projects and unveiled the foundation stones of some other projects of the ICT Division by swapping a smart card.

PM Hasina also unveiled a book titled “Sraroner Aborone Sheikh Russel” featuring his childhood.

The Sheikh Russel Day-2023 is being observed with the theme “Sheikh Russell Diptimoy, Nirvik Nirmal Durjoy” (Sheikh Russel was enlightened, fearless and indomitable).

Russel was born on October 18, 1964, at the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi.