Prime minister Sheikh Hasina and president Zillur Rahman issued separate messages on Monday ahead of International Literacy Day, with the leaders calling for elimination of illiteracy and realisation of 'Digital Bangladesh'. "The present government has declared its programmes to build an illiteracy-free Bangladesh by 2014," president Zillur Rahman said in his statement.

"I believe by bringing education deprived population, dropped out children and older people under primary and semi-formal education, and providing the right training, it is possible to turn them into skilled human resource," he said. Meanwhile, in her Literacy Day message, prime minister Sheikh Hasina said every citizen had to be educated to bring about the Awami League's election pledge for a 'Digital Bangladesh'. "That is why we aim to ensure schooling for all children by 2011. Furthermore, we aim to eliminate illiteracy by 2014," the prime minister said.

The prime minister is scheduled to inaugurate International Literacy Day at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, where she will distribute prizes to National Education Week competition winners, education ministry information officer Al Mahmud Hassan told bdnews24.com. Hassan said the day will be marked with discussions and awareness programmes around the country.

-bdnews