Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that her government wants to spread Bangladesh’s art, culture and literature across the globe by developing their quality further.
She made the remarks while inaugurating the Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2020, on Bangla Academy premises on Sunday (Feb 1), reports BSS.
“Not only in our country, but we also want to reach our art, culture and literature onto the world stage by improving their quality further,” she said.
Addressing the event as the chief guest, Hasina also put emphasis translation of Bangla literature. “We want the people of different languages of the world to know our rich literature and culture.”
She added that Bangla Academy has taken adequate initiatives to this end.
This year Bangla Academy has set the theme of the fair as “Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu” by dedicating the fair to the iconic leader, marking his birth centenary.
At the outset of the function, a minute’s silence was observed by showing profound respect to the memories of the Language Movement martyrs.
The prime minister also handed over Bangla Academy Literary Award 2019 among ten poets and writers.
This year’s winners are Makid Haider (poem), Wasi Ahmed (fiction), Swarochis Sarker (essay and research), Khairul Alam Sabuj (translation), Ratan Siddique (drama), Rahim Shah (juvenile literature), Rafiqul Islam Bir Uttam (Liberation War-based literature), Nadira Mazumder (science fiction), Faruque Moinuddin (autobiography or travelogue) and Saimon Zakaria (folklore).
Sheikh Hasina, also the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, unveiled the cover of Bangabandhu’s third book titled “Amar Dekha Naya Chin” (The New China as I Saw).
After inaugurating the fair, the prime minister visited different stalls of the fair.