Poverty is main enemy of South Asia, says PM

Terming poverty the main enemy of South Asia, Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina has urged all, including poets and littérateurs, to work together to ensure peace in the region by freeing it from poverty, reports UNB.

"The main enemy of this South Asia region and the Saarc countries is

poverty and we'll have to come out of its vicious cycle, and this is our main target," she said on Thursday.

The PM said, "Let's work together to turn South Asia into a poverty-free and peaceful region so that the people of this area could lead a better life."

Hasina was addressing the inaugural function of the two-day Saarc Literary Festival -2014 organised by WRITE Foundation, the Bangladesh chapter of the Foundation of Saarc Writers and Littérateurs, at the National Museum at Shahbagh in the capital. The festival has been organised aiming to promote literary and cultural activities in the Saarc member countries with the theme of 'Beyond Borders: Towards Trust and Reconciliation'.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, President of the Foundation of Saarc Writers and Literature Ajeet Cour and Eminent poet and writer Syed Shamsul Haq also spoke at the function. President of the WRITE Foundation Selina Hossain delivered the welcome address. WRITE Foundation general secretary Rubana Huq gave the vote of thanks.

Speaking at the function, the PM expressed her belief that the real life- oriented literature could bring back people from the darkness of clashes and ferocities to the path of light.

Sheikh Hasina said illiteracy, ignorance and narrowness on religious knowledge are some of the major problems which are creating obstacles

to enrichment of the people in the region.

A total of 68 renowned authors, including 30 from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives are participating in the festival.

Hasina said the country would continue to move forward not bowing down to any kind of injustice. "I think that the exchange of cultural activities could act as a bridge to improve relations with any country or nation."

Hasina said from the medieval era to the present date, the fertile land of Bangla produced numerous poets and littérateurs as it would be rare instance that an educated Bangalee youth did not write two lines of poetry.

Not only the educated ones, the self-educated bauls and bards of this soil have enriched the country's literature and songs. The potters, blacksmiths and carpenters are also unique creative artistes of Bangladesh.

She said that Fakir Lalon Shah, Siraj Sai of the old days or Shah Abdul Karim or Radha Raman Dutta enlightened hearts and souls of all by their works.

The PM mentioned that poet Alaol, Abdul Hakim, Ishwarchandra Bidyasagar, Michael Madhusidhan Dutta, Bankim Chandra, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Jasimuddin, Jibabnananda Das and Shamsur Rahman have sharpened the sphere of people's mind. Some of them got recognition in the international arena.

She said that Rabindranath Tagore, winning the Nobel Prize in 1913, presented Bangla language and literature at the international arena while Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his speech in the UN General Assembly in 1974 and thereby introduced mother tongue to the international community.