JS library set for digital overhaul

The fourth meeting of the Library Committee of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad was held on Wednesday at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, focusing on plans to modernise the Parliament Library through digital transformation and improved research access.

The session was chaired by Committee Chairman and Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal, MP, and attended by committee members Whip A.B.M. Ashraf Uddin (Nizan), Nayab Yusuf Ahmed, Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, Sayeed Al Noman, A.B.M. Mosharraf Hossain, Humam Quader Chowdhury and Akhter Hossen. At the outset, the chairman welcomed the members and reviewed the progress made in implementing decisions from earlier meetings.

The committee also discussed the report submitted by Sub-Committee-1, which was presented and examined in detail, according to a press release. A key focus of the meeting was the modernisation of the Parliament Library and its integration into an e-Parliament framework with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Strengthening Institutions, Policies and Services (SIPS) project of the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat.

In this regard, the committee decided to hold meetings with UNDP representatives, assigning committee members Sayeed Al Noman, Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem and Humam Qader Chowdhury to coordinate necessary steps.

To improve accessibility for researchers, the committee recommended introducing both in-person and online application systems in line with the Library Rules of the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat. It also suggested that applications should be processed within five working days, with mandatory notification to applicants.

Additionally, it recommended that researchers be allowed to use the library from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm during parliamentary sessions.

For strengthening research support within the Secretariat, the committee decided to form a dedicated Research Committee, to be headed by committee member Sayeed Al Noman.

The meeting further recommended the appointment of two IT officers and two cleaning staff at the Parliament Library, along with the installation of a digital signboard at the library entrance.
Officials of the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat were also present at the meeting.