Like other countries around the world, Bangladesh is celebrating the International Literacy Day (2016) today, marking the 50th anniversary of the World Congress of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy, held in Tehran, Iran in 1965.
Following the Tehran recommendation, UNESCO proclaimed September 8th the International Literacy Day. “Education for the 21st Century” is the global theme of this year, which is targeted to drive the global education 2030 agenda under Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs). Apart from the global theme, the Day in Bangladesh will be celebrated with the theme of “Reading the past, Writing the future”.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the day’s programmes at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital at 10 am today. Bangladesh Betar will broadcast the programme live, which will also be available at www.betar.gov.bd. Different government and private institutions and organisations will also organise various programmes to celebrate the day in a befitting manner.
A colorful rally will be brought out at 7 am from the central Shahid Minar, which will end at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday gave separate messages marking the day. The president in his message said that the government is committed to ensure education for all to develop a skilled manpower. “Achieving literacy is not a mere thing, it makes people knowledgeable and skilled, which eventually contributes to build a healthy society and a developed nation”, he said. Referring to the dream of Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the president called for a coordinated effort of all people of the society irrespective of their political and religious faiths to make Bangladesh a prosperous country. The prime minister in her message called upon all to work together to attain cent percent literacy to turn every citizen of the country into a human resource.
“Besides ensuring literacy, we would also develop manpower skilled in information communication technology (ICT) to achieve the Vision 2021 and 2041,” she said. Referring to the different initiatives and programmes of the government under her leadership, the premier said that literacy rate surged to 71.0 percent, which was 45.0 percent seven and a half years ago. The prime minister said that her government put high priority to the target of the SGDs emphasizing on ICT-based standard education.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon also gave a message on the eve of the day, highlighting the target of SDGs for the education sector. “SDGs aim for universal access to quality education and learning opportunities throughout people’s life,” a UNIC press release said here, quoting the UN chief.
On the eve of the day, Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman told a press conference at his ministry that the government is implementing various programmes in the education sector with the major objectives of ensuring education for all and setting a standard in education.
The minister referred to the country’s various achievements for promoting literacy and education. These include the UNESCO Literacy Award in 2012 and the “Tree of Peace” Award for Sheikh Hasina in recognition of her outstanding contribution to promotion of girls’ and women’s education.
