President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday extended greetings to the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of International Literacy Day 2026, saying an educated and skilled population is essential for human-centred development, environmental protection and sustainable economic growth.
In a message marking the day, which will be observed on Tuesday, the president said this year’s theme, “Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity”, is highly relevant in the current global context.
He said literacy is a fundamental human right and a key foundation for sustainable development of individuals, society and the state.
“Literacy is no longer limited to reading, writing and numeracy. It now includes life skills, proper use of information technology, analytical thinking, ethical values and environmental awareness,” he said.
The president said literacy plays an important role in addressing climate change, ensuring sustainable use of natural resources, creating employment opportunities, increasing productivity and promoting inclusive development.
He stressed the need to ensure quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all, saying the government is committed to building an inclusive, modern and quality education system.
He said a plan has been taken to increase education expenditure to 5 per cent of GDP.
The president said initiatives have been taken to introduce modern laboratories, multimedia classrooms, school feeding programmes and robotics corners in educational institutions, while educational stipends will also be doubled.
He said steps have also been taken to strengthen monitoring of teaching activities, reform the examination system, increase students’ participation in sports, recruit and train teachers, introduce the ‘One Teacher, One Tab’ programme and facilitate retirement benefits for MPO-listed teachers.
The president said initiatives are continuing to expand literacy and skill-based education opportunities for women, children, marginalised communities, ethnic minority groups, persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of society.
He expressed hope that successful implementation of these initiatives would help build a knowledgeable, technology-oriented, skilled and responsible future generation.
The president called upon government and private organisations, educational institutions, development partners, civil society, media representatives and people from all walks of life to work together to achieve the goal.
He wished success to all programmes organised to mark International Literacy Day.
