Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday urged poets, litterateurs, writers and thinkers to "lead the nation in creative fields" to remove frustration, unrest, confrontation and narrowness from the society.

"You must work unitedly to preserve our own culture and highlight it globally to help Bangladesh occupy a prestigious place in the comity of nations," she said while addressing the inaugural function of a month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair at the Bangla Academy premises.

Khaleda Zia said the government would take constructive steps for the publication industry to grow both in size and quality.

She urged the Bangla Academy authorities to take measures for translation of great literary works into English and other languages to introduce the nation's cultural heritage in the international arena.

Local and foreign dignitaries including representatives of leading publishing houses attended the function.

Presided over by Chairman of Bangla Academy Prof. Wakil Ahmed, the inaugural function was also addressed by State Minister for Cultural Affairs Selima Rahman, Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Nazmul Ahsan Chowdhury and President of Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers' Association M Abu Taher.

Organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Bangla Academy and Bangladesh Book Publishing and Sellers Association, the inaugural function was broadcast live on television and radio.

Earlier on her arrival at the fair venue, the prime minister was given a standing ovation by the audience. The function began with recitation from the holy Quran.

The national anthem was also played and the song "Amar Bhayer Rakte Rangano" commemorating the Language Movement presented. A minute's silence was observed to pay respect to the national heroes who had laid down their lives for upholding the mother language. A munajat was also offered for the martyrs of the language movement.

The prime minister then formally opened the book fair and released multi-coloured ballons amid a round of applause.

In her speech, she termed Amar Ekushey a unique event in the national life and paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the Language Movement, Liberation War and other democratic movements.

Khaleda Zia thanked the Bangladeshi youths living in Canada whose relentless efforts culminated in February 21 being declared as the International Mother Language Day. She also thanked the government and people of Sierra Leone for making Bangla one of its official languages.

She said books are the main medium of transmitting knowledge to the next generation.

In this context, she mentioned that her government has declared the current year as the "national library year" for development of books and thanked the Bangla Academy for selecting "education" as the main subject in a series of discussion on Amar Ekushey.

Later, the prime minister visited different stalls in the book fair where, organisers said, more than 250 organisations are participating.