Dhaka: 'What a person observes in childhood, they try to recreate it throughout their life,' said Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro. The eminent educator and writer reminisced about how deeply his father influenced him in spreading books and the habit of reading.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Professor Sayeed elaborated on the expansion of the book reading programme across the country, acknowledging the struggles and support received from various sectors, including personal, social, institutional, and governmental. Among the non-state organisations that provided major assistance, bKash stood out as a significant contributor. Over the past 12 years, bKash has provided 400,000 books, distributed to educational institutions nationwide, impacting over 3.2 million readers and students.
Professor Sayeed shared these insights in a video message during an event in the capital to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the partnership between Bishwo Shahitto Kendro and bKash. The event aimed to celebrate their joint efforts to spread the book reading programme across the country.
Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon, Minister of Education, attended the event as the chief guest. Kamal Quadir, Chief Executive Officer of bKash, Major General Sheikh Md Monirul Islam (Retd.), Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer of bKash, and Khandakar Md Asaduzzaman, Executive Director of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro, were also present. The event saw the participation of over three hundred students, teachers, and civil society members.
In his speech, Education Minister Dr. Milon emphasized the need for positive societal change, highlighting the government's efforts to improve education quality starting at the primary level. He noted the government's initiative to increase the education budget, which has risen to BDT 136,000 crore this year, and stressed the importance of nurturing the reading habit to combat mobile phone and drug addiction among the youth.
Kamal Quadir, CEO of bKash, reiterated the company's commitment to driving financial inclusion and supporting education as part of sustainable development. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to partner with Bishwo Shahitto Kendro and emphasised the importance of initiatives that broaden young minds beyond textbooks.
The 'Book Reading Programme' by Bishwo Shahitto Kendro is one of the largest initiatives dedicated to fostering reading habits and critical thinking among students. For over four decades, the programme has been spreading across the country, with bKash actively supporting the initiative for the past 12 years as part of its corporate social responsibility. Through this partnership, bKash has distributed more than 400,000 books to nearly 3,000 educational institutions, benefiting millions of students and readers nationwide.