As we observe International Literacy Day today, it is important to remind ourselves that literacy is not merely the ability to read and write but a fundamental human right and a foundation for accessing wider knowledge, skills, and opportunities.
Yet, it is disheartening that despite decades of progress, at least 739 million young people and adults worldwide still lack basic literacy skills.
For Bangladesh, this remains a particularly relevant concern. The country has made significant strides in expanding access to education, particularly among younger generations: Unesco data put youth literacy at 93.4%, while literacy among those aged 25-64 stands at 76.1%.
These figures show both how far Bangladesh has come and how much work still remains.
More importantly, literacy cannot be treated as a statistic that ends once someone can sign their name or read a sentence. In an increasingly digital society, people must be able to understand information, distinguish fact from misinformation, navigate technology, and also apply what they learn to everyday decisions.
This is especially important in Bangladesh, where access to digital services, financial systems, healthcare information, and government services is rapidly expanding.
The challenge here is twofold: Ensuring that children receive strong foundational literacy and reaching adults who were left behind by the formal education system.
Rural communities, disadvantaged families, older people, and those living in climate-vulnerable areas deserve particular attention.
Encouragingly, Bangladesh already has examples of innovative approaches, such as Sidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha’s solar-powered floating schools, which received Unesco’s Confucius Literacy Prize.
The government must build on such initiatives rather than treating literacy as a campaign-day issue. Better-funded adult education, stronger foundational learning, trained teachers, and accessible digital-literacy programmes are essential.
On this International Literacy Day, Bangladesh should remind itself that literacy is not simply about producing people who can read. It is about empowering citizens to understand, participate, and prosper -- and that must remain the ultimate goal.