Rajshahi: A total of 2,303 students from 56 schools in Rajshahi received prizes for their laudable performance in book reading today at a ceremony held at Shilpakala Academy auditorium, hosted by Bishwa Sahitya Kendra (BSK). More than 6,000 students participated in the year-round book reading programme in 2025, which aimed to develop their latent talents.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the programme was part of BSK's Book Reading Habit Programme, supported by Grameenphone, to reward students who excelled during the evaluation phase. The event saw the presence of notable figures including Commissioner of Rajshahi division Khondoker Azim Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner Afia Akhter, Birds Specialist Inam Al Haque, BSK Trustee Dr. Abdun Nur Tusser, Deputy Director of the Department of Secondary and Higher Education Abdur Rashid, Grameenphone Regional Head Mahmudul Hassan, and BSK Director Shamim Al Mamun, who distributed the prizes.
During the ceremony, Commissioner Khondoker Azim Ahmed highlighted the importance of books, stating, "Books always make people beautiful, bright and prosperous. Only the people enriched with a prosperous heart can build bright Bangladesh." He emphasized the role of book reading in building societies free from inequality and injustice and stressed the need to make books accessible to encourage reading.
Khondoker Azim Ahmed also expressed appreciation for BSK and Grameenphone's efforts in sustaining the book reading programme across the country.