Speakers in a function here today underscored the need for ensuring education for all citizens of the country to build an enlightened and developed nation.

“As all kinds of development and progress of the country are fully dependent on education, an emphasis should be given to bring all children of both rural and urban areas of the country under cent percent education programme”, they said.

They made the comments while addressing a discussion meeting at the hall room of a reputed non-government voluntary organization SinnomulMohilaSamity (SMS) of the town here on Thursday noon with executive director of the SMS Murshidur Rahman Khan in the chair.

SMS and Campaign for Popular Education jointly organized the meeting as a part of the celebration of international Literacy Day-2021 which was celebrated in the district as elsewhere in the country on September 08 in a befitting manner.

This year’s theme of the day was “Literacy for human-centered recovery: Narrowing the digital divide”.

Additional district magistrate (ADM) Md. Robiul Hasan addressed the function as the chief guest and assistant director of Bureau of Non Formal Education here MehediAkter, Sadarupazila secondary education officer SM Sayeed Hasan senior journalist Sarker Mohammad Shahiduzzaman and regional manager of Friendship, a leading NGO of the country, Abdus Salam spoke at the function as the special guests.

Nasrin Sultana, vice principal of SundarganjMohila Degree College, Md. RokonuzzamanAkandFaruk, head teacher of Khidir Sharif Govt. Primary School, Anjali Rani Debi, assistant school teacher and also human rights worker and Mostafizur Rahman, joint secretary of Amader Gaibandha, addressed the function among others while assistant director of the SMS MasudunnabiLipon moderated the function.

The speakers in their speeches emphasized for taking integrated efforts of all stakeholders of the society to push forward the education system towards desired goals.

Earlier, principal of ShamsulHaque Degree College Md. AkramulHaque Khan presented a concept paper on the subject.

ADM Robiul Hasan in his sppeches said in ten years ago the literacy rate of the country was 28.82 percent but now it stands at 74.7 percent.

The increased rate of education has been possible for taking various welfare programmes including compulsory primary education, sub stipend, free text book distribution to the students, development of school infrastructure, distribution of cent percent scholarships and school feedings ones by the government, the ADM also said.

To attain the cherished goals in education, sector the government led by dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly since 2009, he said adding that the government want to free the country from the curse of illiteracy by implementing literacy and non-formal education programmes.

Later the ADM Formally inaugurated the discussion meeting marking the international literacy day-2021 as the chief guest.

Over 50 persons including school and college teachers, SMC members, NGO activists, town elite and journalists took part in the meeting as participants.