Thirteen Children Rewarded with Bicycles for Prayer Attendance

A community organisation in Bangladesh’s Chandpur district has recognised the dedication of 13 children by awarding them bicycles after they attended 275 consecutive congregational prayers at a local mosque, in an initiative aimed at encouraging regular worship and strengthening moral values among young people.

The awards were presented on Friday afternoon at Deshkhaguria village in Gandharbapur South Union of Hajiganj Upazila. The programme was organised by the Deshkhaguria Social Welfare Council, which described the initiative as part of its broader efforts to inspire children to develop positive habits through consistent participation in religious activities.

The recipients earned the bicycles by maintaining uninterrupted attendance at 275 congregational prayers, demonstrating a sustained commitment that organisers said deserved public recognition and encouragement.

The award ceremony was chaired by Azad Hossain, President of the Deshkhaguria Social Welfare Council, while the organisation’s General Secretary, Maulana Abdul Hamid, conducted the proceedings. The event was attended by local community leaders, teachers, social workers, religious scholars, students and residents, reflecting broad support for the initiative.

Among those present were industrialist Mobarak Hossain; Syed Murtaza Kamal, Headmaster of Jagannathpur Haji Ershad Mia High School; former union chairman Billal Hossain; teachers Habibur Rahman and Abdul Hannan; Islamic scholars Maulana Abu Bakar and Maulana Mojibur Rahman; and social workers Amin Khan Mintu, Nurunnabi, Shahjalal Khan and Sahidur Rahman, alongside many other members of the local community.

Two distinguished guests, Engineer Rezwanul Hasan Titu and Amirul Islam Munshi Mir Hossain, addressed the gathering virtually. In their messages, they praised the organisers for promoting ethical and religious education among children, describing the initiative as timely and worthy of appreciation. They said encouraging positive habits from an early age could help nurture disciplined, responsible and socially conscious future generations.

According to the organisers, the programme was designed to encourage children to establish a regular habit of offering prayers in congregation while also fostering discipline, responsibility and respect for religious values. They said such initiatives could play an important role in helping young people build strong moral character alongside their academic education.

The organisers also expressed their intention to continue arranging similar activities in the future, hoping that recognition and positive reinforcement would inspire more children to participate consistently in mosque-based programmes and other community activities.

The presentation of bicycles marked the conclusion of the ceremony, with each of the 13 children receiving their prize in front of an audience of family members, local residents and invited guests. The awards were warmly welcomed by parents, many of whom viewed the initiative as a meaningful way to encourage good habits without placing undue pressure on children.

Community-based reward programmes of this nature have become increasingly popular in different parts of Bangladesh in recent years. Local organisations and mosque committees have occasionally introduced incentives such as bicycles, educational materials, school bags or certificates to motivate children to participate regularly in religious, educational and social activities. Supporters argue that recognising children’s dedication through positive encouragement helps reinforce discipline and community engagement while fostering a sense of achievement.

The Deshkhaguria initiative has received widespread praise from local residents, who described it as an innovative example of how community organisations can encourage constructive behaviour among young people through encouragement rather than compulsion. Organisers hope the programme will inspire similar initiatives elsewhere, helping to strengthen both moral values and community participation among the younger generation.