PM
Traffic woes: Dhaka will see a ‘massive difference’ by 2030, PM says
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said that Dhaka city will witness a “massive difference by 2030” as the government will implement various projects for improving rail connectivity to ease traffic congestion in the capital.
“Insha Allah, Dhaka city will have a different scenario by 2030, through rail communication,” she said while inaugurating train operations from Rooppur, Shashidal and Joydebpur railway stations on the newly installed 69.20 km track under three projects of Bangladesh Railway, joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.
The prime minister said that the government has already introduced Metro Rail for Dhaka city dwellers which will be extended from Uttara to Kamalapur in near future.
She said that not only elevated, the government is also going to introduce underground train, and for that it has started construction work under the MRT-I project.
“It (rail) will save commute time and costs. Traffic of Dhaka city will ease,” she said.
Railways Minister Md. Nurul Islam Sujan, Deputy High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Dr Binoy George, and Railways Secretary Dr. Md. Humayun Kabir also spoke at the programme. A documentary on the three projects of Bangladesh Railway was screened at the event.
The PM said that her government has constructed the Padma Multipurpose Bridge with own financing and ensured rail communication facilities on the bridge.
She said that installation work of rail track on the Padma Multipurpose Bridge is going on in full swing. She added that extension of the rail track to Rupdia and Singia of Jashore is progressing.
“Besides, two fast-track projects are being implemented to establish rail connectivity with the tourist destination Cox's Bazar, thanks to the initiative of the Awami League government,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government is also constructing a separate rail bridge on the Jamuna river, which is progressing fast.
“Those who once opposed rail connectivity through the Bangabandhu Bridge are now proposing to construct a separate rail bridge on Jamuna river. Construction work of the Bangabandhu Rail Bridge is going on,” she said.
The PM said that construction of Akhaura-Laksam dual-gauge double-line, Dhaka-Tongi 3rd and 4th dual-gauge line and Tongi-Joydebpur dual-gauge double-line are under construction.
In addition, she said, the government is constructing Dhaka-Narayanganj dual-gauge line, Bhanga-Barishal-Paira Port railway line, Joydebpur-Ishwardi dual-gauge double-line, Khulna-Darshana dual-gauge double-line, Sirajganj-Bogura dual-gauge railway line.
"Moreover, work on Joydebpur-Mymensingh-Jamalpur dual-gauge double-line, Rooppur nuclear power plant rail-link, Akhaura-Agartala rail line, Dhirashram ICD project is in progress," she said.
The prime minister said that for the purpose of transporting goods of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the government took up the project titled “Rehabilitation and Construction of Railway Line with Signaling for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant” with own funding.
Under the project, a total of 26.52 km railway track including loop-line, Rooppur Railway Station building, 7 culverts, 13 level crossing gates and signaling-telecom work have been completed.
Sheikh Hasina said they undertook the project to upgrade the Dhaka-Chittagong corridor to a double-line.
Earlier, out of 321 km of this corridor, 249 km double-line construction has been completed, she said.
The project titled “Construction of Dual Gauge Double Rail Line from Akhaura to Laksam and Conversion of Existing Rail Line to Dual Gauge” was taken up with Asian Development Bank and European Investment Bank and self-financing for construction of remaining 72 km double-line.
Saying that Laksam-Cumilla train service started earlier, Sheikh Hasina said that now railway double line construction from Shashidal to Rajapur and from Kasba to Mandbagh has been completed which was inaugurated today.
“The double line on the remaining 33 km route will be completed in June this year, Insha Allah,” she said.
The prime minister also highlighted briefly the development works for railway in the last 14 years.
She said that they have constructed 650 km of new railway lines, converted 280 km of meter gauge to dual gauge and rehabilitated/reconstructed 1,297 km of lines.
Besides, 126 new station buildings and 223 station buildings have been rehabilitated/reconstructed, she said.
In addition, 732 new railway bridges were constructed while 774 railway bridges were rehabilitated or reconstructed alongside rehabilitation of 50 broad gauge and 50 meter gauge passenger coaches.
Sheikh Hasina said they have acquired 106 locomotives, 20 sets of DEMUs, 535 passenger carriages and 516 freight wagons.
The government has developed and modernized signaling system at 130 stations, she said, adding that a total of 142 new trains including Mitali Express have been launched on 44 new and extended routes.
Japan wants to invest in sugar industry, biomass power, prepaid gas meters in Bangladesh
Japan wants to invest in several sectors of Bangladesh, including the sugar industry, biomass power generation, and prepaid gas meter industry.
Governor of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Nobumitsu Hayashi expressed the interest when he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter’s official residence Ganabhaban in Dhaka.
PM’s speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.
Read more: Bangladesh, Gambia agree on co-deployment of troops in UN peacekeeping
Hayashi said JBIC is keen to provide loans to Japanese entrepreneurs for making investments in these particular sectors in Bangladesh.
PM Hasina appreciated the offer – saying that one or two out of the country’s 15 sugar mills can be made available to Japanese investors.
She said a prepaid gas meter factory can be built under a joint venture.
The prime minister said Japan is a trusted partner of Bangladesh, adding that the people of Japan have been standing by Bangladesh since the Liberation War in 1971.
“I am extending gratitude to Japan on behalf of Bangladeshi people, as Japan is still extending cooperation to us,” she said.
Read more: PM launches operation of 3 newly built rail lines on Rooppur, Shasidal and Joydebpur routes
In this connection, she said that Bangladesh is implementing several mega-projects with Japanese support, which include Matarbari deep seaport, Matarbari coal-fired power plant, Third Terminal of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangabandhu Rail Bridge over the Jamuna river and Dhaka Metro Rail project.
She hoped, “The existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Japan will be strengthened further in future.”
The JBIC governor described Japan as Bangladesh’s development partner and vowed to contribute more to the country’s development journey. Senior Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori were present at the meeting.
Bangladesh, Gambia agree on co-deployment of troops in UN peacekeeping
Bangladesh has in principle agreed for the co-deployment of Bangladeshi and Gambian troops in a suitable UN peacekeeping mission, following the permission of the United Nations.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday in principle agreed to work on a proposal of Gambia in this regard, when a Gambian delegation, led by its Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Mamadou Tangara met her at her official residence Ganabhaban.
PM’s Speech Writer Md Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.
Dr Mamadou, who is now visiting Bangladesh as Special Envoy of the President of Gambia Adama Barrow, handed over a request letter of the Gambian President to Hasina over the co-deployment of troops.
The PM said the co-deployment of forces can be made following preparation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) between two sides and getting permission from the United Nations.
The Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad highly praised the development of Bangladesh, particularly in the agriculture sector and its contribution to the worldwide peace-building.
The Gambian minister said Bangladesh is a small country having a large population, but there is no food shortage in the country.
Read more: PM Hasina unveils operation of 3 newly built rail lines
In this context, the prime minister said Bangladesh and Gambia can cooperate in the agriculture sector.
Noting that the African nation has a vast land, she said the Gambian lands can be cultivated under joint venture with Bangladeshi manpower and technology for mutual benefit.
She said Bangladesh was a food deficit country in the past, but the country attained food autarky as her government made enough investment in the agriculture sector, particularly research.
The PM said Bangladesh is the highest troops contributing country in the UN peacekeeping missions. Bangladesh wants peace throughout the world.
Hasina said her government has taken a policy not to leave a single piece of land uncultivated and the people are very responsive to the policy in order to raise food production now.
Turning to the Rohingya issue, the PM thanked and praised Gambia for standing beside the displaced people from Myanmar.
She said Bangladesh gave shelter to Rohingya people on humanitarian ground and will continue taking care of the displaced people during their stay in Bangladesh.
In 2019, Gambia filed a case with the International Court of Justice (ICT) in The Haque, the United Nations’ highest court, alleging that Myanmar is breaching the genocide convention.
Gambian Defence Minister Sering Modou Njie, Foreign Senior Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman and PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin were present during the meeting.
PM launches operation of 3 newly built rail lines on Rooppur, Shasidal and Joydebpur routes
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday inaugurated simultaneous operation of trains on three newly built rail lines to ease the transportation of passengers and cargo on the Rooppur, Shasidal and Joydebpur routes.
She inaugurated the 69.20 km lines virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.
The 11-km-long rail line for Rooppur has been constructed by the science and technology ministry at the cost of Tk 335 crore.
The construction work started in April 2018. It is a dedicated rail line for transportation of cargo to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
As part of the project, a new rail station was constructed near Hardinge Bridge. Besides, a 26.52-km-long dual-gauge rail line was set up, including siding and loop line from Ishwardi by-pass station to Rooppur plant.
Read more: Bangladesh, Gambia agree on co-deployment of troops in UN peacekeeping
The 11km-long dual-gauge double-line from Tongi to Joydebpur will help railway authorities to increase the number of train trips on the Dhaka-Tongi-Joyebpur route, which links the entire west zone of Bangladesh Railway.
The second line was built at the cost of Tk 1,300 crore under an Indian-funded project.
The sections of 14km-long dual-gauge double-line on the Dhaka-Chattogram route are Kashba to Mandabagh and Shashidal to Rajapur.
The construction was done under a project funded by Asian Development Bank.
Obtain trainings on skills dev, especially on ICT: PM tells students while publishing HSC results
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked students to acquire special training on skills development on different subjects, especially on ICT, for taking advantage of the immense opportunities in the job market.
“This is the digital era; you have to keep your eyes on this. If you do that, you will get more opportunities in the job market,” she said.
The prime minister said this on the occasion of publishing Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exam results at her office (PMO).
Sheikh Hasina asked students to take skills development trainings, particularly on ICT, during their free time – to make them better prepared for the digital age.
“Bachelor’s or master’s alone won’t be enough; you need special knowledge in any subject to expand job opportunities at home and abroad,” the PM said.
She asked students not to waste their time and get trainings that the government is providing across the country.
Sheikh Hasina asked concerned persons and authorities to put more attention on research.
“Our research work on agriculture is going well; I will ask you to give more attention to other subjects,” she said.
Read more: 85.95 % pass 2022 HSC, equivalent exams
She said that without research it would not be possible to attain knowledge on the latest developments.
The PM said that no country can be developed without having a literate nation. “We want a poverty-free Bangladesh. And for that we urgently need literate people.”
In this connection, she said that the government has diversified education.
“We have given special attention on education so that our children can cope with the continuously developing world. We are providing scopes to get higher education in every district. This will ensure employment too,” she said.
She said that the government has set up subject-focused universities which are required to keep up with the rest of the world.
She highly praised students for continuing their studies during the coronavirus pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions and counter-sanctions – that have created a restless situation across the globe.
“Within this situation, our children continued their education, sat for exams, and passed the exams – this is no small achievement.”
Read more: How to see your HSC 2022 result
She congratulated those who have passed in the exams and their guardians.
“And those who did not manage to pass the exams, I would urge them not to be depressed. Start preparing for the next exam with determination.”
Considering the pass rate for female students is higher than their male counterparts, she asked the latter to be more attentive in their studies.
Sheikh Hasina said that children of the country are brilliant, and if they are given the opportunities, they can achieve anything.
Earlier, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni handed over the result summary to the prime minister. After that chairmen of different education boards handed over the results of their respective boards to the PM. The education minister, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury and Secretary of Secondary and Higher Education Division Suleman Khan also spoke at the programme.
Actual costs need to be paid to get gas, electricity: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said consumers should pay the actual costs to avail gas and electricity supply.
“Gas and electricity supply can be provided if all agree to pay the purchasing costs. How much subsidy can be given? And why should we continue to give subsidies?” — she said, adding that the government is providing subsidies to agriculture and food production for the greater interest of the nation.
The PM said this while opening the newly constructed ‘Biniyog Bhaban’ (Investment Building) of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) in Dhaka’s Agargaon area.
Read more: PM likely to attend G20 Summit in New Delhi September
The Investment Building would be used as the offices of three agencies: BIDA, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), and National Skills Development Authority (NSDA).
Sheikh Hasina said the production cost of per kilowatt electricity is Tk 12, but its price is only Tk 6. Despite this, the government is criticized for electricity tariff, she said.
In the UK, electricity price has been increased by 150 percent. “We have not reached that stage (such a bad situation) yet,” she said.
Read more: ‘We keep our promises one by one’: PM Hasina says at launch of underground metro construction work
The PM asked the countrymen to make investments in a larger way in the food and agro-processing industries, particularly in the 100 economic zones, which are now being developed throughout the country.
She said there is high demand for food in the world due to the fallout of Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Food prices have soared significantly, she said.
PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman presided over the opening event, while PM’s Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah was present. BIDA Executive Chairman Lokman Hossain Miah delivered the welcome speech.
PM likely to attend 5th UN conf on least developed countries in Doha next month
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to participate in the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) to be held in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, on March 5-9.
An inter-ministerial meeting, chaired by Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, was held on January 30 regarding the Prime Minister’s participation in the LDC5, spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seheli Sabrin told reports at a weekly briefing on Thursday.
The LDC5 is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to accelerate sustainable development in the places where international assistance is needed the most - and to tap the full potential of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) helping them make progress on the road to prosperity.
PM opens construction work of country's first-ever underground metro rail
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday opened the construction work of the country's first-ever 31.241-km underground metro rail project, Mass Rapid Transit Line-1 (MRT-1).
She unveiled the inaugural plaque of MRT Line-1, joining its launching ceremony at Purbachal in Rupganj of Narayanganj, on the outskirts of Dhaka.
The MRT Line-1 having both underground and elevated facilities will be constructed at an estimated cost of Tk 52,561.43 crore by 2026.
The first underground metro line will have two parts -- a 19.872-km part from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur (Airport route) and an around 11.37-km elevated line from Natun Bazar to Purbachal.
The airport-Kamalapur part includes 16.4-km underground with 12 stations, while the Natun Bazar-Purbachal part includes seven stations.
A total of six metro rail routes will be inaugurated in the capital city Dhaka by 2030.
To implement the MRT Line-1, Japan International Cooperation (JICA) will finance Tk 39,450.32 crore, while the rest Tk 13,111.11 crore will be drawn from the government’s fund.
Also read: Construction work of underground metro rail to be inaugurated Thursday
Some eight lakh passengers will be able to travel through the MRT Line-1 every day. Passengers will take only 25 minutes to travel from Airport to Kamalapur with breaks at 12 underground stations and 21 minutes from Natun Bazar to Purbachal with breaks at seven stations.
Besides, passengers will be able to reach Purbachal from Kamalapur with an interchange in Natun Bazar station within only 40 minutes with breaks at 16 stations.
Both the elevated and underground stations will have lifts, stairs, and escalators.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the MRT line-1 project at Tk 52,561.43 crore in 2019.
On December 28 last year the prime minister opened the operation of the country's first ever metro rail service on the Uttara-Agargaon part of MRT Line-6 (Uttara-Agargaon-Farmgate-TSC-Motijheel-Kamalapur). The work of MRT-6 line till Motijheel will be completed by December 2023 and will be extended to Kamalapur by June 2025.
The construction work of MRT-5 (northern route) will be inaugurated in July 2023. MRT-5 (northern route) line will be from Savar's Hemayetpur to Bhatara via Gabtoli, Mirpur and Gulshan.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori, Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Division ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) MAN Siddique and Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh Ichiguchi Tomohide were present.
Option for producing ‘hydrogen electricity’ is being examined: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said discussions are on to produce hydrogen electricity from sea water.
Referring to the new concept of hydrogen power generation from sea water, she said that discussions are underway with all the companies that gave proposals in this regard.
“If possible, feasibility study of hydrogen power generation at Matarbari, Maheshkhali or Banshkhali will be done,” she said while responding to a tabled question from ruling party member Anwar Hossain Khan.
The Prime Minister said that in some countries of the world, electricity is generated by using the tides of the sea, which is costly and has not been commercially successful.
“There are currently no plans to set up such a power plant as it is costly,” she said.
She informed about the idea of producing hydrogen electricity from sea water.
Mentioning that it is very costly, she said that in the future, if the cost of constructing such power plants comes down, the plan to use the tides of the Bay of Bengal for electricity production can be adopted to build a power plant.
In response to ruling party MP Kazim Uddin Ahmed's question, the Prime Minister said that as a result of the government's action, a record number of 11,13,374 workers have been employed abroad in 2022.
“Among them, the number of women workers is 1,05,466,” she added.
She said that currently Bangladesh exports manpower to 168 countries and the government wanted to reduce manpower export dependency in the Middle Eastern countries.
“For that purpose, a move is on to export manpower in Eastern Europe and Eastern Asian countries,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina while responding to ruling party MP Mahfuzur Rahman said that 1,558 bridges and 7,498 culverts have been constructed or reconstructed during the tenure of the current government.
“Improvement of 908.49 kilometres of road to four lanes or more is in progress. Out of this, 235.03 kilometres of road have already been made into four lanes or more.”
In response to Jatiya Party MP Rustam Ali Farazi's question, the Prime Minister said that up to December of the current fiscal year 2022-23, there had been an inward remittance flow of $10,493.26 million.
Replying to the question of ruling party member AKM Rahmatullah, she said 182,352 out of 187,290 valiant freedom fighters were given digital certificates and 95,245 smart ID cards from the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.
PM opens Ekushey Book Fair 2023 in person for first time in 3 years
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday inaugurated the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2023, the annual event of booklovers and publishers, in the capital.
The premier opened the country’s biggest book fair in the afternoon, joining its inaugural ceremony in person on the Bangla Academy premise after a gap of three years induced by Covid-19 pandemic.
The fair is being held on the Academy premises and its adjoining Suhrawardy Udyan with the theme “Poro Boi, Goro Desh-Bangabandhu’r Bangladesh” (Read Books, Build the Country as Bangladesh dreamt by Bangabandhu).
Addressing the opening ceremony, the prime minister stressed the need for translation of Bengali literary works in foreign languages to reach out to the non-Bengali readers as well as for creation of digital versions of books to reach the larger readers.
She said 21st February got recognition as the international mother language day. So, a large responsibility was bestowed upon Bangladesh to make Bengali language familiar to the world arena in a massive way, she said.
“If we want to do it, we need to translate and put emphasis on the translation of our literary works,” said Hasina.
She said all the books of Bengali literature, which would be published, should be translated into different languages, not only one or two books in a year.
Hasina said Bangla Academy and International Mother Language Institute can jointly take the initiative for the translation of Bengali literary works.
Noting that the Father of the Nation once arranged an international literature fair, she asked Bangla Academy to take such initiatives for hosting international fair on its premise.
The PM thanked Bangla Academy for arrangement of book fairs in the districts saying that there is now scope and facilities to arrange such events even in upazila level as there are cultural academies in every area.
“Our young generation will stay away from drugs, terrorism and militancy as much as we can attract them into our literature and cultural exercises. Then they would get scope to lead normal life and flourish their talents through the practice of literature,” she said.
She said the scope for sports, practices of literature and culture should be taken to even the grassroots level of the country for the grooming of the young generations.
Also read: Amar Ekushey Book Fair to continue until March 17: State Minister
Mentioning that now it is digital era and her government made the country as digital Bangladesh, the PM said it is very essential to make digital versions including audio versions of books to reach out to larger readers.
Though reading the digital version of a book doesn’t give the real satisfaction, such versions should be created to create scopes for wider readers, she said.
The book fair will remain open for the visitors from 3 pm to 9 pm on working days and 11:00 am to 9 pm on the holidays. However, the visitors can enter the fair on International Mother Language Day at 8am, and all entrance points will be closed after 8.30pm every day.
A total of 901 stalls have been allocated to 601 organisations for this year’s book fair, compared to 776 stalls to 534 organisations last year.
Of these, 165 stalls have been allocated to 112 organizations on the Bangla Academy premises, the rest 736 stalls to 489 organizations at Suhrawardy Udyan. Moreover, a total of 38 pavilions have been allocated this year.
All the 489 stalls inside Suhrawardi Udyan have been set up in a way so that a visitor can see the whole fairground from any corner.
The temple gate of the Suhrawardi Udyan is the main entrance, which is located opposite the Bangla Academy. Also, there are three more entrances and exits nearby the Teacher-Student Center (TSC), Doyel Chattar and the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB).
The entire fair zone will be closely monitored by more than 300 CCTV cameras.
At the opening ceremony, the prime minister distributed the Bangla Academy Sahitya Puroshkar-2022 (Bangla Academy Literary Award 2022) among its recipients.
She handed over the award to the 15 recipients under 11 categories. Each awardee received a cheque for award money, a crest and a certificate.
Faruk Mahmud and Tarik Sujat received the award for poetry, while Taposh Mojumdar and Parvez Hossain for novels, Masuduzzaman for essays/research and Alam Khorshed for translation.
The other awardees are Milan Kanti Dey and Farid Ahmad Dulal for drama, Druba Esh for juvenile literature, Muhammad Shamsul Haque for research on the Liberation War, Subhash Singha Roy for research on Bangabandhu, Mokarram Hossain for science/science fiction/environmental science, Iktiar Chowdhury for biography and travelogue and Professor Abdul Khaleq and Professor Mohammad Abdul Jalil for folklore.
The Bangla Academy Sahitya Puroshkar is given in recognition of creativity and talents in advancement and overall contributions to the field of Bengali language and literature.
The Prime Minister unveiled the cover of seven new books published by Bangla Academy. The books include Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Rachonaboli Volume-I edited by Sheikh Hasina, Amar Jibanniti Amar Rajniti composed by Abdul Hamid, Asamapta Ajmajibani Path Bislashan, Karagarer Rojnamcha Path Bislashan and Amar Dekha Nayachin Path Bislashan composed by Mohammad Nurul Huda.
After the inauguration of the fair, Sheikh Hasina visited different stalls there.
The book fair is arranged every year in February commemorating the sacrifices of language heroes who laid down their lives on February 21, 1952, for establishing Bangla as an official language of the then-Pakistan along with Urdu. Bangladesh was the eastern wing of Pakistan until its liberation in 1971.
But the traditional dates of the fair got shifted for the past two editions due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The traditional Amar Ekushey Book Fair had started informally in 1972 on the Bangla Academy premises and then in 1978 the academy officially took the responsibility of arranging the fair every year.
Bangabandhu’s youngest daughter Sheikh Rehana was present in the inaugural ceremony presided over by Bangla Academy President novelist Selina Hossain.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Monsur, Bangla Academy Director General poet Nurul Huda and president of Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association Arif Hossain Choton spoke on the occasion.