DHAKA: International Literacy Day being observed in the country on Sunday as elsewhere across the globe through various programs.

Globally this year’s International literacy day 2013 theme is "Literacies for the 21st Century" while the day’s theme in Bangladesh is “We will become literate and efficient: This is our aim in the 21st century”.

But there is confusion about the statistics. Primary and mass education ministry and statistics bureau gave dissimilar information.

When journalists queried the matter, primary and mass education Minster Afsarul Amin gave no answer about the contradictory information.

Mass education ministry said that government has fixed a target to literate people, aged between 11 and 45.

Meanwhile, various government and private organizations has taken several programs to observe the day.

Primary and mass education ministry is set to hold a daylong program at Osmani memorial auditorium in city.

Primary and Mass education Minster Dr Afsarul Amin was scheduled to inaugurate the programs.

Besides, a roundtable will be held at Tejgaon non-formal education bureau auditorium in the capital at around 3:00pm.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages marking the day.

President Abdul Hamid in his message said that there is no alternative of literacy for the overall development of the country.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said that removing all inequity we enhanced quality education. Using modern information technology, we made the teaching method attractive. We determined to remove illiteracy from the country.”

BDST: 1131 HRS, SEP 08, 2013
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