Dhaka: Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury highlighted the critical role of reading books in cultivating a nation rich in free-thinking, humanity, patriotism, and secular values. He articulated these thoughts as the chief guest at the inauguration of a four-day training workshop entitled “Enhancing Knowledge and Skills of Government Public Librarians” held at Jatiya Grantha Kendro in the capital.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister criticized the previous fascist government’s efforts to undermine the nation’s intellectual growth by replacing books with drugs in students’ hands and implementing an auto-pass system in various public examinations. He underscored the importance of fostering a knowledge-based society by cultivating reading habits and steering clear of drugs.
Minister Chowdhury urged the Jatiya Grantha Kendro authorities to devise strategies to incorporate more private libraries into the registration framework alongside government libraries. The event, chaired by Jatiya Grantha Kendro director Afsana Begum, also saw the presence of Professor Dr. Muhammad Mesbah-ul-Islam from the University of Dhaka’s Department of Information Science and Library Management as a special guest.
The minister also took the opportunity to inaugurate the computer lab at Jatiya Grantha Kendro, further enhancing the resources available to support the development of public librarians and the broader community.