Dhaka – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called everyone to contribute to her fight for freeing Bangladesh of illiteracy as 29 per cent people of the South Asian country cannot write their names.

The Prime Minister’s call came Thursday at a programme organised at Osmani Memorial Hall to mark 50^th anniversary of the International Literacy Day.

Bangladesh, now with 71 per cent literacy rate, can shortly declare an illiteracy-free nation if everyone contributes to their respective parts.

“We can quickly reach to our cherished goal and declare the country illiteracy free if everybody takes the initiative to provide education to illiterate persons in their respective areas,” the Prime Minister said.

She urged the students, student organizations, public representatives, political parties and educated people in the public and private sector to join the drive against illiteracy.

“We have to build our country to live with dignity. Literacy is a very dominant factor to make the country free from poverty,” said Hasina adding that her government would do everything possible to eradicate poverty and illiteracy.

A nation cannot prosper without educating its people, said Hasina highlighting her government’s efforts to improve schools and education system for the betterment of the country.

She said her government in 2013 has nationalized 26,193 schools along with the services of 105,200 teachers, which happened first time in the country after Bangabandhu.

Salaries and allowances of the teachers have also been increased alongside the other civil servants, she added.

Minister for Primary and Mass Education Mustafizur Rahman presided over the function.

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