It is my great pleasure and unique opportunity as the founder president of PAGSB to convey the warm greeting, good wishes and gratitude to all the distinguished national and international delegates, member of PAGSB, OGSB, development partner and electronic media on the occasion of 1st International Scientific Conference being held in this historical and beautiful city of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is indeed a great privilege for me to be with all of you at this august gathering.

Bangladesh has an adolescent population of approximately 36 million which is more than one-fifth of total population in those between ages of 10 to 19 years (BBS, 2015). This large cohort presents significant potential for the social and economic development of the country. If we make the necessary investment in adolescent health it can bring a triple dividends of immediate benefit, benefits into future adult life and benefits to the next generation of children.

Government of the people's republic of Bangladesh has been working at different levels of health facilities not only to improve maternal and child but also adolescent health. For the country's future development Bangladesh government developed "The National Adolescent Health Strategy- 2017-2030" to address the overall health needs of adolescents by taking a broad and holistic understanding of the concept of health. This strategy identified four priority thematic areas of interventions adolescent sexual and reproductive health, Adolescent Nutrition, Adolescent mental health, violence against Adolescents. Keeping all this in mind "Pediatric and Adolescent Society of Bangladesh" starts its journey from 12th December, 2021. Since its inception the society's mission and aims are to advance evidence — based standards, care in education, advocacy, clinical care and research in pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology across the country and abroad. Theme of the conference "Because their priority matters"- has very rightly chosen as various critical issues regarding adolescent health will get priority during the conference. The importance of understanding various problems associated with pediatric and adolescent gynecology as well as their management is a major concern for doctors, politicians, health care workers and the community.

Many adolescents, especially adolescent girls in Bangladesh are not provided with optimal conditions to develop their all potential and ensure their overall health in their transition into adulthood. Adolescent girls also face gender based discrimination, child marriage, high rates of adolescent fertility, high prevalence of domestic violence increasing incidence of sexual abuse and higher dropout rates from secondary education due to social norms of Bangladesh.
I am pleased to announce that this also marks the official beginning of the "Pediatric and Adolescent Society of Bangladesh". This society is formed to bring together a group of dedicated individuals driven to address the preventive and curative aspects of pediatric and adolescent gynecology. This newly formed society takes challenges to arrange this international conference to encourage the best evidenced based practices by updating the knowledge in this subject for quality of life and welfare of the pediatric and adolescent girls. Various critical issues regarding adolescent health will get priority during the conference.
We are sure that delegates will be immensely benefited by the presentation. This will in turn pave the pathway or the better future for adolescent in terms of providing quality care. Once again I extend a warm welcome to all of you to this scientific conference.