With this end in view, she announced 2006 as 'Technology Book Year' as a fresh book-promotion measure in the new year that began yesterday and also awarded the writers who made outstanding contribution to this pursuit of grooming a knowledge-based society and nation.

She made the call while inaugurating the 12th Dhaka Book Fair 2006 yesterday. The National Book Centre under the Cultural Ministry organised the fortnight book fair on the Shilpakala Academy premises with the theme 'Books for Peace and Development'.

The book fair will remain open to all everyday from 2.30pm to 8.30pm and 11:00am to 8.30pm on holidays.

"Apart from our endeavor for poverty alleviation and overall development, we, on various occasions, have articulated our vows to build a more knowledge-based nation," Khaleda told the inaugural function.

She said the government laid emphasis on both formal and non-formal education. So the government has taken uninterrupted initiatives for easy availability of and increasing propensity for reading book in the nation.

"Whatever initiative taken by the government or non-government sector is nothing else but to ignite a torch, but the duty to keep the torch alit and remove the darkness is yours," the Prime Minister urged the readers, writers, publishers and the learned people.

"Our government has celebrated its last four years in flourishing, publicising and expanding of books through different programmes," Khaleda said. And this thrust should be maintained.

While announcing this year as Technology Book Year, she expressed her desire that more and more technology-based books would be published this year laying emphasis on information technology and biotechnology.

Book will be the tool of peace and development if the educated people concentrate on book reading and involve themselves with social welfare through applying their knowledge.

"Let's get in touch with welfare process, gain knowledge, feel peace and widen the development process," Khaleda said.

Earlier, she gave away "Science Book Year-2005 Award" to five science writers.

The award carries a gold medal, a certificate and Tk 50,000.

The recipients are Prof Nurul Islam (Medical Science), Prof AM Harunur Rashid (Physical Science), Prof Kazi Zakir Hossain (Zoology), Dr Mamunur Rashid (Agricultural Science) and Prof M Qamrul Islam (Engineering).

She also awarded 12 students who got talent-pool scholarship in primary and junior scholarship examinations.

Presided over by State Minister for Cultural Affairs Selima Rahman, the inaugural function was also addressed by Acting Secretary of the Cultural Affairs Ministry ATM Ataur Rahman and book publisher M Liakatulla.

Ministers, MPs, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman, politicians, diplomats, poets, writers and publishers were also present.