Prime Minister inaugurates Amar Ekushey Granthamela

Calling for more and more practice on Bengali literature and culture, the Prime Minister said spirit of nationalism should be implemented in every sphere of the society to resist the wicked force.

Terming the "Ekushey Granthamela' as a source of inspiration for Bengali people, Sheikh Hasina said, the fair has an important role in flourishing the thoughts and minds of the writers, publishers and new generations giving them right direction for future.

Chairman of Bangla Academy Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman presided over the function while Minister for Cultural Affairs Asaduzzaman Noor, cultural affairs secretary Dr Ranjit Biswas also spoke on the occasion. Director General of Bangla Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan gave welcome address.

The Prime Minister handed over honourary fellowship of Bangla Academy to noted pantomime artiste Partha Pratim Majumder and Bangla Academy Literary Award to nine eminent poets, writers, researchers and academics for their contributions in various disciplines of literature.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister disclosed her government's plan to make Bangla Academy premises, Suharawardi Uddyan, Ramna Park, Dhaka University and Shaheed Minar areas as a centre of cultural practice through connecting the areas and building necessary infrastructure.

Praising the role of Bangla Academy in promoting Bangla language, literature and culture the Prime Minister said, the academy since its inception in 1955 is making relentless efforts for intellectual development of the Bengali people.

She said a new book published by the academy this year on evolution of Bangla language would open up new chapter for research in Bengali language.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid importance on translation of the popular books of Bengali literature in other languages and vice versa to enrich Bangla language.

Sheikh Hasina said her government is continuing its efforts to make Bangla as one of the official languages of the United Nations. In this regard she sought cooperation of all concerned saying, "with the united efforts of all we will be able to give UN status to our mother language."

Revisiting the contemporary history of the nation, Sheikh Hasina recalled the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during the Language Movement in 1952 for which he was imprisoned time and again.

She also recalled the contribution of language veteran Dhirendranath Dutta, who first placed the demand in the then Pakistan National Assembly in 1948 for making Bangla one of the state languages.

The Prime Minister also paid her glowing tributes to former Chief Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman and recalled his outstanding contribution to enrich Bengali literature.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, her government in 1996 took the spirit of immortal Ekushey to international arena. With the help of two expatriate nationals, Ekushey February earned recognition as the International Mother Language Day.

"The spirit of Ekushey is now transcended across the world," she said adding Bangladesh has established an international mother language institute to protect the languages about to extinct.

Sheikh Hasina hoped that this year's book fair would help Bangla language to link it with contemporary world literature and marketing of the books would boost country's economy.

Month long cultural programme, seminar and discussion on language and culture would also supplement enriching our mind and spirit, she hoped.

The Prime Minister said the government has taken initiative to prepare a legal framework to strengthen the activities of the Bangla Academy. She said the government has already launched work to formulate a Jatiya Grantha Niti.