FE Report
Thirty-nine writers have received 'Agrani Bank-Shishu Academy Shishu Sahitya Award' for their outstanding contribution to children's literature.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith distributed the awards among the winners at a ceremony, held at the Shishu Academy auditorium in the city on Saturday.
Each of the awardees received Tk 15,000, a crest and a certificate.
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, Chairman of Agrani Bank Limited Dr Zaid Bakht and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank Mohammad Shams-Ul Islam were present, among others.
Speaking on the occasion, AMA Muhith advised the children present at the function to set their goal in life to become a successful person.
"You will certainly be successful in your life, if you fix your aim in life at this tender age," the finance minister said.
Recollecting an event of his school life, the minister said he received an award at an essay writing competition when he was only 10-year-old.
"I was immensely inspired by that achievement, which drove me to do better in the following years," he said.
Mr Muhith also said any achievement of a young student brings joy for the teachers and classmates as well.
Highlighting the government's success in increasing the literacy rate, he said the country's most of the children now go to school as the dropout rate has significantly decreased on the back of various measures taken by the government.
In his speech, Zaid Bakht congratulated the writers for their contributions to children's literature.
Suitable books can help children construct a creative mind, he said.
He also laid emphasis on restrained use of mobile phone by school-going children.
Dr Zaid assured the Shishu Academy of support for organising the award distribution programme every year.
The award styled 'Agrani Bank Shishu Sahitya Puroskar' was introduced in 1981.
They were awarded in seven categories, including poetry-rhyme-lyrics, storey-novels-fairytales, Bangabandhu-Liberation War, science, travelogue, drama and book ornamentation.
Children preformed songs after the award distribution.
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