The International Literacy Day will be observed in
the country today.
The government and different Non-Government
Organisations (NGOs) have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the
day. The United Nations also declared 2003-2012 as the ‘Literacy
Decade’. Primary and Mass Education Ministry will hold a function at the
Osmany Memorial hall auditorium in the city in observance of the day and
the UN Literacy Decade.
Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia will inaugurate the
function, as the chief guest while Finance and Planning Minister M
Saifur Rahman will be present as special guest. Prof Jahanara Begum,
Primary and Mass Education Affairs Adviser to the PM will preside over
the function.
Non-Formal Education Department under the Primary and
Mass Education Ministry will launch a four-day programme including
colourful procession, Mass Education Fair, street drama, slide show on
mass education in cinemas and cultural function. The department will
bring out a procession at 8.30 in the morning from Central Shaheed Minar
in the city that will end at the Osmany Memorial Hall premises. A "Mass
Education Fair" will be held at the Jatiya Press Club auditorium in the
city at 3pm today. Prof Jahanara Begum will be present at the programme
as chief guest. A daylong literacy festival will also be held at the
LGED Bhaban in the city in observance of the day. Action Aid,
Bangladesh, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, two other NGOs –FIVDB and FPED will
jointly organise the programme.
Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Speaker of the Jatiya
Sangsad will inaugurate the programme as chief guest while Prof. Dr.
Tahmina Hossain, Secretary for Primary and Mass Education Ministry and
Wolfgang Vollmann will be present as special guests. Meanwhile,
Dhaka Bahai Society and Minority Rights Commission will jointly organise
a discussion meeting at the Society’s auditorium in the city on the
occasion. Democracywatch, Education and Institute of Lifeskill and
Information Technology will jointly bring out a procession from the
Jatiya Press Club in the city at 10.30 am today to mark the day.