‘Hatekhori’ for 106 children

A total of 106 children received their first lesson on Bangla letters during "Hatekhori" at Central Shaheed Minar in Pabna yesterday, on the occasion of Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day.

Pabna Gonoshilpi Sangstha, a cultural organisation in the district, organised the traditional Hatekhori (initiation to writing) programme.

Children aged between three and five from different areas of Pabna participated, said Simanto Azad, secretary of Pabna Gonoshilpi Sangstha.

Four-year-old Mariam Azad, daughter of Saiful Islam, wrote Bangla letters on a slate for the first time in her life. She was mentored by eminent educationists of the district.

"My daughter will be admitted to pre-primary school next year. This is a different experience for her to receive lessons on writing Bangla letters on the Shaheed Minar premises," said Saiful Islam, father of Mariam Azad.

Urmi Afroz, mother of a three-year-old, said such initiative will encourage the children to learn Bangla.

Gonoshilpi has been organising Hatekhori marking International Mother Language Day for the last few decades.