Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday requested authorities concerned and scholars to work for evolving adequate terminology for applying Bengla at higher levels of education and administration.

Inaugurating a month-long book fair in the Bangla Academy premises on the occasion of the upcoming golden jubilee of language movement on 21st February, the International Mother Language Day, she said her government would provide all necessary assistance in this exercise that is prerequisite to applying the mother tongue at all levels of activity.

The Prime Minister especially called for writers, litterateurs, scientists, academics and scholars to come forward to accomplish this noble task, for which all are indebted to the great language martyrs.

"We have many things remaining to do for using Bengali language in all spheres of life. Though Bengali has been introduced in higher studies, administration and other activities, we could not yet attain desired success for lack of necessary textbooks and terminology, and insufficiency of scientific and technology-related vocabularies," she told the inaugural function.

To give right importance to the memory of language martyrs, the

PM requested all concerned to think about naming of any remarkable establishments in the city after language movement martyrs and veterans.

There are no memorials to the martyrs in the city, except for Shaheed Minar, for upholding the prestige of mother tongue, she noted.

Turning to foreign languages, the Prime Minister also reminded all about learning other important languages of the world besides strengthening the exercise of mother tongue.

"Otherwise on the one hand we will not be able to project our national thoughts to foreigners and on the other we would fall behind in different competitions in international arena."

She also stressed the importance of translating various Bengali books into other languages, including English, as well as translating repositories of knowledge in various languages into Bengali.

Assuring that her government will not hesitate to do whatever necessary for development and expansion of publication industry, the Prime Minister said, "We want the growth of indigenous publication industry -- not only in respect of quantity but also quality."

The Prime Minister said as a nation people we are proud as Amar Ekushey has now been recognised as International Mother Language Day by the world community, through a UNESCO declaration. "I congratulate the expatriate Bangladeshi youths in Canada who took the lead in getting international recognition of this great National Day of ours."

Paying high tributes to the immortal martyrs of language movement, including Barkat, Salam, Rafiq and Jabbar, as well as

martyrs of independence war and various movements, Khaleda said, "We have gained the independent Bangladesh as a result of supreme sacrifice of the valiant struggling heroes among our predecessors."

One-minute silence was observed at the outset of the inauguration of the book fair in memory of the martyrs of Language Movement 1952 and Independence War 1971. Munajat was also offered for the departed souls and progress and prosperity of the country.

Later, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia released a bunch of colourful balloons to open the Book Fair. Then she visited some book stalls and bought some books, including Biswa Kosh-Sahitya Sambhar, Bigyan Kosh, Nazrul's Dhumketu and a book on computer programming.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs Selima Rahman, Cultural Secretary Nazmul Hasan, secretary general of Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association Abdur Razzzak, managing director of Srijonshil Publisher Parishad Mojibur Rahman and acting DG of Bangla Academy Moinul Hasan attended the function.