Dhaka: Bangladesh's leading publishing house, University Press Limited (UPL), celebrated its golden jubilee with an event titled 'UPL Turns Golden'. 'The journey of this publishing house has been almost parallel to the journey of Bangladesh,' stated UPL Managing Director Mahrukh Mohiuddin during her opening speech. She also announced the launch of 'Aarshi Trust' in memory of the publishing house's founder, the late Mohiuddin Ahmed.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mahrukh, who is also Mohiuddin's daughter, emphasized that this milestone is significant not just for UPL, but also for its readers. The celebration took place at the seminar hall of The Daily Star Centre at Karwan Bazar and began with a musical performance followed by a discussion.
Mahrukh highlighted her father's dedication to catering to the readership and encouraging authors to write. He actively engaged with international publishers to bring quality books from around the world to Bangladeshi readers. 'He was an ambassador of knowledge from Bangladesh to the outside world and he made every effort to uphold the dignity of Bangladesh and of publishers wherever he went,' she remarked.
The event featured notable speakers, including Professor of English and Modern Languages at IUB Niaz Zaman, economist Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Central Women's University Vice Chancellor Dr. Perween Hasan, The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, photojournalist and rights activist Shahidul Alam, and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Professor Ali Riaz.
Mahfuz Anam commented on the importance of a knowledge-based society and the role of quality books in achieving this, reflecting on Mohiuddin Ahmed's lifelong dedication to this cause. Ali Riaz noted that UPL put Bangladesh on the global stage in the 1980s with its academic, analytical, and research-oriented works.
In addition to the discussions and the inauguration of the Aarshi Trust, a book display and sale featuring UPL publications was held throughout the event. Founded in 1975, UPL also launched a month-long book fair to mark its anniversary at its three outlets in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Khulna, offering discounts of 30 to 70 percent. Readers can also avail of these discounts on UPL's online platform until December 31.