RANGPUR, Sept 8, 2022 (BSS) - Bangladesh has achieved laudable success in reducing illiteracy rate through implementing various non-formal education programmes on the way to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

 The observation came today at a discussion jointly organized by the district administration and District Non-Formal Education Bureau at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner here in observance of the International Literacy Day- 2022.

 Officials, employees and executives of different government departments and NGOs, teachers, students, civil society members, religious leaders and local elite were present. Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan addressed the discussion as the chief guest with Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Md. Firujul Islam in the chair.

 Assistant Director of the District Non-Formal Education Bureau, Rangpur Md. Moshfiqur Rahman delivered a welcome speech narrating the successes already achieved in reducing illiteracy rate. Former Head of the Department of Bengali of Rangpur Begum Rokeya Government College Professor Mohammad Shah Alam presented the keynote essay on 'Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces' in the discussion.

 Superintendent of Police Md. Ferdous Ali Chowdhury, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education for Rangpur Zone Md. Akhteruzzaman and Education Officer at the Divisional Office of Primary Education Ziasmin Akhtar addressed as special guests. District Education officer Roksana Begum, District Primary Education Officer Md. Shajahan Siddique and Superintendent of Rangpur Primary Teachers' Training Institute Khondker Iqbal Hossain took part in the open discussion.

 Moshfiqur Rahman discussed various government programmes taken to provide literacy knowledge, informal education, technical and vocational training to the illiterate population to turn them into skilled human resources.

 The speakers said the government has been implementing massive programmes to achieve cent percent literacy rate and the SDGs by 2030 on the way to build a developed nation by 2041 next. The chief guest lauded the national education policy and stressed on its proper implementation to build an illiteracy-free nation through spreading education among all to ensure national prosperity.

 "Comprehensive GO-NGO collaboration can further accelerate the process of reducing illiteracy rate alongside providing job-oriented education to illiterate people to make them productive human resources," he added.