DHAKA: The Asia Foundation Bangladesh observed International Literacy Day 2013 by organizing a book donation event and children’s book fair on Saturday.

The event was organized at Rayer Bazar Playground, Sadek Khan Road, Rayer Bazar, featuring 15 exhibitors from local children’s book publication house, said a press release.

On the occasion, the Asia Foundation donated 4000 books to 20 local schools and organized a book fair for children to promote the role of children’s books for developing reading habits and literacy among more than 10,000 primary level students and school teachers.

This event was a rendezvous of young readers, children`s book publishers, and national and international organizations such as, Room to Read, Jaago Foundation, Sesame Workshop Bangladesh, the British Council, and Dhaka Ahsania Mission to celebrate the transformative power of children’s books with The Asia Foundation. The vision of this event is to make children book available for the underprivileged community children.

This International Literacy Day, The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program and Room to Read announce a partnership that will expand access to compelling early reading material to children in under-served communities throughout developing Asia.

The partnership brings together Room to Read’s award-winning local language publications with Books for Asia’s extensive network of schools and libraries in the region to further their shared mission of providing educational tools that inspire and inform.
 
Hasan Mazumdar, Country Representative, The Asia Foundation, Bangladesh; Zaki Hasan, Country Director, Room to Read Bangladesh; Anwer Hossain Managing Director, Sesame Workshop Bangladesh; Ehsanur Rahmna, Executive Director, Dhaka Ahsania Mission; Korvi Rakshand, Founder, Jaago Foundation and Sukla Dey, Program Coordinator of Asia Foundation attended the event.

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region. The Foundation supports Asian initiatives to improve governance and law, economic development, women`s empowerment, the environment, and regional cooperation.

Drawing on nearly 60 years of experience in Asia, the Foundation collaborates with private and public partners to support leadership and institutional development, exchanges, and policy research. With 17 offices throughout Asia, an office in Washington, DC, and its headquarters in San Francisco, the Foundation addresses these issues on both a country and regional level. In 2011, the Foundation provided more than $97 million in program support and distributed nearly one million books and journals valued at over $41 million.

BDST: 1815 HRS, SEP 07, 2013
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