Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the quarters concerned to translate the best creations of Bangla language and present them on the world arena.
“I request you to present the best creations of the Bangla language to the world through their translations,” she said, while inaugurating the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair at the Bangla Academy premises and on parts of the Suhrawardy Udyan in the city.
The UNB quoted the premier as saying that the trials of war criminals and butchers of 1971 was the beginning of a new historic process of cleansing the society from stigma of the documented atrocities on a nation.
“There will be no space for evil forces in Bangladesh. Our nation will be a pacifist one in South Asia,” Hasina said.
The BSS also reported that the prime minister termed the book fair as a source of inspiration for Bangalees, adding that the space of the book fair has been expanded across Suharawardy Uddyan this year with the goal of turning the historic venue as the nation’s cultural center.
Sheikh Hasina said her government was continuing its efforts to make Bangla as one of the official languages of the United Nations.
Hasina also recalled the contribution of language movement veteran Dhirendranath Dutta, who first placed the demand in the then Pakistan National Assembly in 1948, and the leadership of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during the Language Movement in 1952.
The prime minister handed over honourary fellowship of Bangla Academy to noted pantomime artiste Partha Pratim Majumder and Bangla Academy Literary Award to nine eminent poets, writers, researchers and academics for their contributions in various disciplines of literature.
Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman, the chairman of Bangla Academy, presided over the function while Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor and Cultural Affairs Secretary Dr Ranjit Biswas also spoke on the occasion. Director General of Bangla Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan gave the welcome address.
The speaker, deputy speaker, ministers, premier’s advisors, fellows and life members of Bangla Academy, academics, teachers, poets, litterateurs, writers, publishers, and artistes also attended the inauguration of the book fair.
