The Prime Minister yesterday opened a month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair' and programme at Bangla Academy, urging all to exercise democratic tolerance for building a society the lan-g3^,’^t)Ts

The spirit of Ekushey is the spirit of our national unity. Ekushey embodies nourishment of our democratic values and teaches us to tolerate others opinion and maintain peaceful coexistence." Begum Khaleda Zia said inaugurating the function against the backdrop of demonstration by a section of students.

"Let’s reflect this teaching in every sphere of our national life. Let the spirit of Ekushey be our guide in our march forward.'' she said in her call.

The Prime Minister said her government had adopted the principles of tolerance during the last five years for

From Page 1 maintaining the democratic process, because it believes that democracy gets its firm fooling through the flourish-ment of hundreds of schools of opinion. "Now an absolute freedom of expression is prevailing in the country."

Referring to the annual book fair bring organised by the Bangla Academy, Begum Zia said the book fair became the centrcppint of union of writcrs-publishers, educationist s-lcarners.

People irrespective of parly and opinion throng the fair and exchange their views, slie said and hoped that sin h exchanges would further strengthen the atmo-spheie of tolerance.

She said education is necessary for practising science and knowledge and flourlsh-nient <•! talent. From this re-alisat'on. she said, the gov-ernnieni has given top priority to education since the beginning.

"Book is the main medium of knowledge. A book can sustain thousands of years. Book hands down science, knowledge, thought and spirit of a society to the next generation. The present generation knows thousand years old history, tradition and society from book." the Prime Minister observed.

"We need more books, improved publications and

spread of massive books so that the readers get all kinds of books ready in hand." she said laying importance on arranging more book exhibitions.

She informed that the government had taken measures to hold book fair nationwide alongside the Ekushey book fair arranged every year marking Shaheed Day. the anniversary of martyrdom for Bengali language in the great Language Movement of 1952.

Begum Zia said attaching Importance to book, the government had formulated national book policy with the objective of publishing books of International standard and exporting Bangladeshi books to international market.

She lauded the role of the Bangla Academy for its efforts in publishing quality books for the development of science, knowledge and talent.

Begum Zia in her seven-minute written speech paid rich tributes to and recalled the sacrifice of the heroic sons of the soil who laid down their lives in the language movement, War of Liberation and establishing and safeguarding the democracy.

Before the inaugurals, one-minute silence was observed showing respect to the martyrs of Language Movement.