Bangladesh with the rest of the world yesterday observed the International Literacy Day with a vow to attain 62 per cent literacy rate by the year 2000 and hundred per cent by 2005, reports BSS.

President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed inaugurated the nationwide programme of the day at a function at the Osmany Auditorium and distributed awards among the best teachers

Primary and Mass Education Division and several government departments, NGOs and socio-cultural organisations have taken up different programmes to mark the day.

A grand procession of concerned government officials. NGOs and social workers was brought out in the city in the morning which was led by Deputy Minister for Primary and Mass Education Prof Zlnnatunnesa Talukder. The parade started from the central Shaheed Minar and ended at Osmany Auditorium.

Cultural organisations and -'several theatre groups presented cultural functions, including songs and street drama, promoting literacy.

Deputy Minister for Primary and Mass Education Prof Zlnnatunnesa Talukdar told the news agency that the current literacy rate in Bangladesh is 47.30 per cent against the world average of 23 per cent.

Rqjshahi

RAJSHAHI. Sept 8: International Literacy Day was observed in a befitting manner here today.

Mass literacy fair, discussion and cultural function were held to mark the occasion.

Speakers at a discussion held at local Lokhnath High School premises said that national progress was not possible without mass education. They stressed the need for making collective efforts of all. particularly the educated class to render their service to eradicate illiteracy from society for all-round development of the country.