The theme of the day is ‘Literacy and Skills Development’
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages marking the day.
Different government and private organisations have been observing the day amid various programmes.
The Dhaka University authorities have taken up elaborate programmes marking the day which includes rally with participation of students, teachers and employees of the Institute of Education and Research(IER), discussion and debate competition.
The country’s literacy rate is 72.9 percent which was 72.3 last year, said Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman at a pogramme on Thursday.
The International Literacy Day is celebrated throughout the world marking the 52nd anniversary of the World Congress of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy, held in Tehran, Iran in 1965.
Following the Tehran recommendation, UNESCO proclaimed September 8 as the International Literacy Day.