Jashore: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today announced a government initiative aimed at cultivating a book reading habit among children, steering them away from excessive use of mobile phones. “We want to develop the habit of reading books. We want to bring children out of mobile phones and into playgrounds and books. This is a plan we have,” he stated during a visit to the historic Jashore Institute Public Library.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Prime Minister expressed the importance of this initiative while interacting with attendees at the library. He emphasized the need to begin the work, acknowledging that while success is uncertain, the effort is crucial. Tarique Rahman, who also serves as the ruling BNP chairman, mentioned his recent meeting with Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro, an organization focused on promoting book reading. The government plans to collaborate with this organization to achieve its goals.
The Prime Minister outlined a strategy to target two primary schools in each upazila, where books will be provided to children. He clarified that these books would not be political but educational, covering diverse topics such as religion and global awareness. “We will give such books that would help children learn and understand many things,” he added.
Tarique Rahman also discussed plans to assess the books that children read, aiming to gradually instill a reading culture among the young. His visit to the Jashore Institute Public Library followed the unveiling of the foundation stone plaque for the Jashore Medical College Hospital. The library, established in 1851, is one of the oldest in Bangladesh and the Indian subcontinent, serving as a testament to the region’s rich history of public libraries.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, and State Minister Forhad Hossain Azad, among others.