A young participant at the painting competition. Photo: STAR

To mark the International Literacy Day, essay and painting competitions were held in the district town on September 9. World Vision local ADP organised the competition in its hall room.
Around 200 students sponsored by the NGO, studying in various schools in Mymensingh municipality, took part in the painting competition in four groups. At the essay competition there were five groups.
Of the total participants, 15 will be selected for prizes in the essay competition and 12 for the painting competition. Dulal Chandra Gain was the judge of the painting competition while Monwara Begum, Mohamad Chan Miah and Biswajit were judges of the essay competition. The winners of the competitions will be awarded at a function on September 14.
Earlier a discussion was held with Adolf Marak, World Vision Programme Officer in the chair. ADP Manager Samarendra Sangma was the chief guest while Nikhil Chadra Roy, Sultan Ahmed, Mahbubul Alam Tarafder, secretary of Alok Chitra Shilpi Sangsad AHM Motalab and Sheikh Fuad spoke on the occasion as special guests.
The speakers were of the view that such competitions could develop the inner potential of children. For an optimum education, extra-curricular activities are needed and so the children should be encouraged to go in for such creative pursuits, they added.
Every literate person, they concluded, has the duty to inspire illiterates and school children can take play a major role in this direction.