–Aminul Islam–

‘Bangladesh Scouts’ is termed as the national scouting organization in the country. Scouting is a movement whose mission is to educate youths through joy. Through this, a boy or girl builds themselves as a good citizen for the country. There is immense joy hidden in scouting. To take its taste, you have to join this movement first.

In 1907, Robert Stephenson Smith Lord Baden Powell of Gilwell, abbreviated as BP, started this movement. Later, it spread all over the world.

According to the history of scouting, it started journey in Bangladesh in 1972.

On April 8-9 of that year, scout leaders from all over the country met in a meeting in Dhaka and formed the Bangladesh Scout Association.

On September 9 of the same year (Monday, September 11, 1972), the association received official recognition by the President of Bangladesh through Ordinance No. 111.

Earlier, the East Bengal Scout Association was formed in Dhaka on May 22, 1948 under the leadership of veteran scout Salimullah Fahmi.

The World Scout Organization (WSO) recognized the Bangladesh Scout Association as its 105th member on June 1, 1974.

However, the name of the association was changed to Bangladesh Scouts at the fifth National Council meeting on June 18, 1978.

In order to provide opportunities to the girls in this organization, Girl-in-Scouting was introduced in Bangladesh with the approval of the World Scout Organization at the eleventh meeting of the National Council on March 24, 1994.

In the preliminary stage, Bangladesh Scouts started its activities with only 56,325 members.

In 1978, a special program was taken to increase the number of members. Under this program, this number increased to 500,000 within 1985 by conducting training courses for all levels across the country. Then, Bangladesh Scouts adopted the Strategic Plan-2013 in 1995 and 1996.

In this plan, efforts were made to not only increase the number of scouts, but also to achieve quality standards.

In order to implement six-priority-based programs, volunteer leaders and scouts collectively tried to create 2.1 million scouts by 2021.

As a result, the number of scouts reached 1,682,761 by 2017, which established Bangladesh as the 5th country in the World Scout Organization.

Bangladesh Scouts formed 20 high-level national committees to implement the priority programs and eminent and experienced scouts chaired them.

The highest policy-making body of Bangladesh Scouts is the National Scout Council. The President of Bangladesh and the Chief Scout are the heads of this council.

The meeting of the Scout National Council is held every year at the headquarters. However, the Chief National Commissioner and other members of the National Executive Committee are elected in every 3rd annual meeting. Currently, an ad-hoc committee is in operation.

The Chief National Commissioner is the Chief Executive of Bangladesh Scouts. So far, six people have been elected to this position – Peer Ali Nazir was the first National Commissioner.

The last Chief National Commissioner was Dr. Md. Mozammel Haque Khan. The Chief National Commissioner is assisted by volunteers, 20 National Commissioners and 40 National Deputy Commissioners. About 69 professionally trained Scout Executives are involved in the overall development and expansion of the Scout movement across the country.

In a word, all the activities of Bangladesh Scouts, such as policy making, planning and implementation, monitoring, evaluation, communication and international relations are centrally managed from the National Headquarters of Scout Bhaban in Dhaka.

In addition, for the purpose of smooth management of the organizational and administrative infrastructure across the country, Bangladesh Scouts is divided into 13 regions.

At the divisional level, nine are located in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Barishal, Khulna, Mymensingh and Sylhet, while four offices including Rover, Railway, Navy and Air based on the Education Board are located in Dhaka.

The Bangladesh Scout Movement is mainly divided into three branches. Cub Scouts are for children aged six to 10+ in various educational institutions, Scouts are for boys and girls aged 11 to 16+ in schools and madrasas, and Rover Scouts are for young people aged between 17 and 25 in college and university level.

However, the age limit for employees in the railway, navy, and air sectors is up to 30 years.

In addition, there are open scout groups at various levels. Enthusiastic adults are serving as unit leaders and other officers after various trainings.

The main goal of Scouting is to develop the physical, mental, moral, intellectual and social qualities of children and adolescents and to make them good citizens for the family, society, country and the world.

Some special features are noteworthy in Scout activities, which are: learning to work by hand, working in small groups, recognizing work through the badge system, performing work in an open area, giving three-finger salute and shaking hands with the right hand, wearing Scout clothing, scarf and badge and always adhering to the Scout Law and Promise.

Scouts have to become members of the Scout Movement by practicing, taking the Pledge and taking initiation according to the rules prescribed by the founder of the movement, Lord Baden Powell.

The motto or main mantra of the Scouts is Cub-try your best, Scout- always ready, and Rover-service.

Scout activities include weekly classes, camps and hikes, commemorations and large gatherings such as camporee (for Cubs), jamborees (for Scouts) and moots (for Rovers), which are organized at national, regional, district or upazila levels (these are also organized internationally) by the World Scout Organization.

In addition, various social development activities are undertaken at different group and district levels.

Among these, tree plantation, vaccination, sanitation and environmental protection are mentionable. The service programs of the Scouts during floods and natural disasters are always remembered with respect by the people of Bangladesh.

Scouts are recognized for all these activities and various trainings by being awarded various badges.

The highest badges for the three branches of Scouting are: Shapla Cub, President’s Scout and President’s Rover Scout. Adult leaders are also given various awards for their contribution to Scouting.

The highest of these is the Silver Tiger and the second highest is the Silver Hilsa.

The World Scout Organization also gives the Bronze Wolf Badge to outstanding Scouts from different countries. However, only a very small number of Scouts receive this badge.

Lord Baden-Powell was the first to be awarded this badge on August 2, 1935.

Bangladesh Scouts has about 30 publications for the proper conduct of scout activities. These are, however, based on various writings of Baden Powell.

Notable among these are: PRO, Cub Scout Handbook, Training Manual, Program Book, Scout Record, Patrol Leaders Handbook and Program Bulletin etc.

Bangladesh Scouts Rover Region has published about a dozen of books including the translation of the book Rovering to Success written by BP. A monthly magazine called ‘Agradoot’ of Bangladesh Scouts is being published regularly, which has recently entered its 57th year.

A program called Agradoot by Scouts and for Scouts is also being broadcast regularly twice a month on Bangladesh Television.

One cannot become a scout by just joining. For this, there must be unity. Only then can one find its joy. After a few days of education, a boy or girl becomes a scout member by reciting the oath and then he or she can wear scout clothes, wear a member badge and a scarf of own group around the neck. Then he or she passes each level.

A scout comes forward to help everyone. Not for the purpose of getting anything, but for the sake of humanity. Scouting teaches a person to move forward slowly and steadily, not to be disturbed by any danger. Scouting makes them skilled in leadership. Scouting teaches the fun of being in a team and sharing tasks from an early age.

In recognition of these qualities, scouts are given awards. Cubs receive the Shapla Cub Award, Scouts receive the President’s Scout Award, Rovers receive the President’s Rover Scout Award. The names of the scouts who have received the award are carefully written down.

Scouting in Bangladesh is moving forward at its own pace. Boys and girls are becoming self-reliant through scouting. Their skills are increasing through various educations.

In 2007, on the occasion of the centenary of the Scout Movement, the World Scout Organization set the theme ‘One World, One Promise’ and took up various programs including the World Scout Jamboree in the UK.

Among the programs that Bangladesh Scouts also take up are: the International Centenary of Comdeca, Jamboree on the Train, 4th APR Air Internet Jamboree, 9th National Rover Moot and 12th Multipurpose Workshop. Besides, the 7th National comdeca that was held in Sirajganj recently, was also worth mentioning.

Bangladesh Scouts works to build scouts as self-respecting, honest, characterful, hardworking, service-oriented, and above all good citizens through various levels of training.

In the context of the socio-economic condition and decline of values ​​in Bangladesh, the necessity and importance of the Scout movement in building the country and nation are essential.

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The author is a journalist and also unit leader of the Service-Free Scout Group in Sirajganj.