Int’l Literacy Day observed

International Literacy Day was observed in the northern districts of Rangpur and Gaibandha on Tuesday.

Rangpur district administration and District Non-Formal Education Bureau organised a meeting at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) in observance of International Literacy Day- 2022.

Bangladesh has achieved laudable success in reducing the illiteracy rate through implementing various non-formal education programmes on the way to achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs), officials observed.

Officials, employees and executives of different government departments and NGOs, teachers, students, civil society members, religious leaders and local elite were present. Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan addressed the discussion as the chief guest with the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Md Firujul Islam in the chair.

Assistant Director of the District Non-Formal Education Bureau, Rangpur Md Moshfiqur Rahman delivered a welcome speech narrating the successes already achieved in reducing the illiteracy rate. Former Head of the Department of Bengali of Rangpur Begum Rokeya Government College Professor Mohammad Shah Alam presented the keynote essay on ‘Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces’ in the discussion.

Moshfiqur Rahman discussed various government programmes taken to provide literacy knowledge, informal education, and technical and vocational training to the illiterate population to turn them into skilled human resources.

“Comprehensive GO-NGO collaboration can further accelerate the process of reducing illiteracy rate alongside providing job-oriented education to illiterate people to make them productive human resources,” he added.

In Gaibandha the district administration and the Bureau of Non-Formal Education(BNFE) jointly organised programmes marking the day.

This year’s theme of the day is Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces: Exploring Opportunities and Possibilities. A discussion meeting was also held in the conference room of the DC on the occasion.

DC Oliur Rahman addressed it as the chief guest and principal of Gaibandha Government College Professor Khalilur Rahman and additional police super Abu Khayer spoke at the function as special guests with ADC (general) M Shusanto Kumar Mahato in the chair.

The speakers said the overall development of the country and its human resources are fully dependent on education and its progress.

They also underscored the need for bringing all children including chars and remote areas of the country and helping them be worthy citizens of the country to build an enlightened nation. District level officials, educationists, heads of various academic institutions, freedom fighters, NGO activists and civil society members including journalists took part in the programme spontaneously.