President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages on Saturday wished success of ‘Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2015’ and ‘International Literary Conference 2015’ scheduled to begin on Bangla Academy premises today.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid said the Bangla Academy is the ultimate fruit of the language movement of the Bangalees.
He referred to the significance of the 21th February in the history of the struggle for mother tongue and said the month-long book fair at Bangla Academy upholds the spirit of the language movement.
The President conveyed profound respect to the memory of the martyrs of the language movement.
He said the Ekushey Book Fair brings together people of all strata irrespective of religion, creed and cast and ensures intellectual advancement of the nation.
The President recalled the world literary conference at Bangla Academy inaugurated by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1974 and hoped that the ‘International Literary Conference 2015’ would dignify the book fair in the international arena.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted all involved in arranging the ‘International Literary Conference 2015’ marking the month-long book fair at the Bangla Academy.
She recalled the contribution of the martyrs of language movement and said their supreme sacrifice tells the world that the Bangalees do not bow down to any injustice.
The Prime Minister said the Bangla Academy is completing 60 years of its glory this year.
“Marking the completion of six decades of Bangla Academy, I recall with profound respect all involved with its foundation,” she said.
The month-long book fair of Bangla Academy is a rare instance and a matter of pride for the nation, she added.
Sheikh Hasina hoped the cultural functions and discussion meetings at the book fair would bring dynamism in country’s cultural field and the huge selling of books in the fair would help further strengthen the foundation of economy.
She expressed her firm conviction that the new generation would resist ignorance, darkness and injustice, being enlightened with the light of books.
They will develop Bangladesh as ‘Sonar Bangla’ enriched with literature, culture, knowledge and science as dreamt by Bangabandhu, she hoped.
