Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday urged students to keep their homes, educational institutions and surroundings clean to help prevent dengue.

He also advised them to play regularly alongside their studies and be caring towards animals and other living creatures.

The Prime Minister gave the advice when a group of students from Kalmakanda Girls’ High School in Netrokona met him in front of his office at the Parliament complex around 5:30pm.

Addressing the students, he stressed the need for everyone to remain aware of dengue prevention and ensure that no water remains stagnant in and around their homes.

Tarique Rahman urged them to start the habit of cleanliness from their own families and encourage family members, friends and neighbours to keep their surroundings clean. “Your small initiatives can help build a clean and healthy society,” he told them.

During the meeting, he also asked the students about their studies, classes and future aspirations.

Stressing the importance of physical and mental development, the Prime Minister advised them to focus not only on textbooks but also to take part in regular sports and physical exercise.

He also urged them to treat animals with kindness and avoid any cruel behaviour towards them, saying compassion for living creatures is a sign of a humane society.

A total of 42 students from Classes VI to X visited Parliament to watch a session. They were accompanied by five teachers and two members of the school’s governing body.

The students got the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister while visiting the Parliament complex.

They expressed excitement at meeting Tarique Rahman in person and said they are keen to follow his advice in their own lives and share the messages with their families, schoolmates and people in their community.