Practice of literature can prevent students from wrongdoing: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon the students to read books more to earn knowledge and know the world, saying that the practice of literature could prevent them from stepping into the wrong path.

"The practice of education and literature could salvage our students and children from the wrong path and I believe that as much the practice of education and literature would be made, they would come back to right track to that extent," she said.

In this connection, the premier observed that reading books becomes a habit if this practice begins from the childhood.

The premier said this while inaugurating the month-long "Ekushey Grantha Mela" (Book Fair) on the Bangla Academy premises here this afternoon.

Through the same function, the premier opened a four-day International Literature Conference 2017 and handed over prizes among the winners of `Bangla Academy Sahitya Puroshkar 2016`.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor presided over the function, while Director General of Bangla Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan delivered the welcome address.

Cultural Affairs Secretary Begum Aktari Mamtaz and Bangla Academy Fellow and publisher Mafidul Haque spoke on the occasion.

Professor Dong You Chen, a Chinese researcher and translator on Rabindranath Tagore`s works, Austrian Menfred Kebo, Luz Maria Lopez from Puerto Rica, German writer Tobaias Burghardt and Indian essayist Chinmoy Guha joined the inaugural function as guests of honour.

Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, cabinet members, PM`s advisers, noted writers, researchers, poets and publishers and fellows of Bangla Academy joined the function.

At the outset of the function, a minute`s silence was observed as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the Language Movement martyrs.

"Nirbachita Prabandha", authored by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, "Ocean of Sorrow", a translation of noted Bengali novelist Mir Mosharraf Hossain`s famous novel "Bishad Sindhu" and "Hundred Poems From Bangladesh", published from Germany, a compilation of Bangladeshi poems published in Swedish language were handed over to the prime minister at the function.

Source : BSS