BSS, Dhaka :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon the students to read books more to earn knowledge and know the world, saying that the practice of literature could prevent them from stepping into the wrong path.
“The practice of education and literature could salvage our students and children from the wrong path and I believe that as much the practice of education and literature would be made, they would come back to right track to that extent,” she said. In this connection, the premier observed that reading books becomes a habit if this practice begins from the childhood. The premier said this while inaugurating the month-long “Ekushey Grantha Mela” (Book Fair) on the Bangla Academy premises here yesterday afternoon.
Through the same function, the premier opened a four-day International Literature Conference 2017 and handed over prizes among the winners of ‘Bangla Academy Sahitya Puroshkar 2016’.
Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor presided over the function, while Director General of Bangla Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan delivered the welcome address. Cultural Affairs Secretary Begum Aktari Mamtaz and Bangla Academy Fellow and publisher Mafidul Haque spoke on the occasion.
Professor Dong You Chen, a Chinese researcher and translator on Rabindranath Tagore’s works, Austrian Menfred Kebo, Luz Maria Lopez
from Puerto Rica, German writer Tobaias Burghardt and Indian essayist Chinmoy Guha joined the inaugural function as guests of honour.
Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, cabinet members, PM’s advisers, noted writers, researchers, poets and publishers and fellows of Bangla Academy joined the function.
At the outset of the function, a minute’s silence was observed as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the Language Movement martyrs. “Nirbachita Prabandha”, authored by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, “Ocean of Sorrow”, a translation of noted Bengali novelist Mir Mosharraf Hossain’s famous novel “Bishad Sindhu” and “Hundred Poems From Bangladesh”, published from Germany, a compilation of Bangladeshi poems published in Swedish language were handed over to the prime minister at the function.
The prime minister said the people can get pleasure if they read books regularly. Knowledge could be earned by reading books, while this habit could keep the people busy being away from many things, she said.
In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said there was practice of reading books in their house, which still exists.
“In our childhood, we used to get Taka 10 for buying books and with this money, we bought Roopkotha, Dasyu Bahram … later we read novels gradually and it was turned into an addiction,” she said.
The premier said her grandchildren have a habit of reading books like their parents. “We have built a bookshelf for them in our home and told them to read books sitting in front of the shelf,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the current era is a ‘digital era’ where everything is available in the grip. Books could be read from kindle and iPod and connection could be kept with library very easily and there is no need for moving with a sack of books, she said. The premier said when her son and daughter used to come home, they carried suitcases filled with half of books. “We kept these books in our library when they went abroad again after leaving these books.” “But now it is painful to see then come home with a machine and say that it is linked to an entire library. My daughter – in-law showed a kindle and said that all books are available which I want,” she said. The prime minister said she at that time told her daughter-in-law that “you earlier came with books. But you would go abroad again with the kindle.” Sheikh Hasina, however, said she doesn’t have much time to read in this way by getting membership of a library. The prime minister said reading books by turning over pages gives her different pleasure-it’s the reality. Sheikh Hasina said Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela got the recognition as the biggest book fair of the world in terms of duration. “This book fair is not only a centre of buying and selling of books now, simultaneously it’s a name of traditional get-together and festival for the Bangalees,” she said. The prime minister said the Bangalees living in different corners of the world come home every year on the occasion of the book fair. The foreign nationals visit the fair to witness Bangalees’ love for books, she said. The prime minister lamented that she cannot visit the fair as she did in the past. “What will I do as my hands and legs are tied due to my state responsibility … when everybody comes to fair, my mind remains here.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon the students to read books more to earn knowledge and know the world, saying that the practice of literature could prevent them from stepping into the wrong path.
“The practice of education and literature could salvage our students and children from the wrong path and I believe that as much the practice of education and literature would be made, they would come back to right track to that extent,” she said. In this connection, the premier observed that reading books becomes a habit if this practice begins from the childhood. The premier said this while inaugurating the month-long “Ekushey Grantha Mela” (Book Fair) on the Bangla Academy premises here yesterday afternoon.
Through the same function, the premier opened a four-day International Literature Conference 2017 and handed over prizes among the winners of ‘Bangla Academy Sahitya Puroshkar 2016’.
Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor presided over the function, while Director General of Bangla Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan delivered the welcome address. Cultural Affairs Secretary Begum Aktari Mamtaz and Bangla Academy Fellow and publisher Mafidul Haque spoke on the occasion.
Professor Dong You Chen, a Chinese researcher and translator on Rabindranath Tagore’s works, Austrian Menfred Kebo, Luz Maria Lopez
from Puerto Rica, German writer Tobaias Burghardt and Indian essayist Chinmoy Guha joined the inaugural function as guests of honour.
Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, cabinet members, PM’s advisers, noted writers, researchers, poets and publishers and fellows of Bangla Academy joined the function.
At the outset of the function, a minute’s silence was observed as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the Language Movement martyrs. “Nirbachita Prabandha”, authored by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, “Ocean of Sorrow”, a translation of noted Bengali novelist Mir Mosharraf Hossain’s famous novel “Bishad Sindhu” and “Hundred Poems From Bangladesh”, published from Germany, a compilation of Bangladeshi poems published in Swedish language were handed over to the prime minister at the function.
The prime minister said the people can get pleasure if they read books regularly. Knowledge could be earned by reading books, while this habit could keep the people busy being away from many things, she said.
In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said there was practice of reading books in their house, which still exists.
“In our childhood, we used to get Taka 10 for buying books and with this money, we bought Roopkotha, Dasyu Bahram … later we read novels gradually and it was turned into an addiction,” she said.
The premier said her grandchildren have a habit of reading books like their parents. “We have built a bookshelf for them in our home and told them to read books sitting in front of the shelf,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the current era is a ‘digital era’ where everything is available in the grip. Books could be read from kindle and iPod and connection could be kept with library very easily and there is no need for moving with a sack of books, she said. The premier said when her son and daughter used to come home, they carried suitcases filled with half of books. “We kept these books in our library when they went abroad again after leaving these books.” “But now it is painful to see then come home with a machine and say that it is linked to an entire library. My daughter – in-law showed a kindle and said that all books are available which I want,” she said. The prime minister said she at that time told her daughter-in-law that “you earlier came with books. But you would go abroad again with the kindle.” Sheikh Hasina, however, said she doesn’t have much time to read in this way by getting membership of a library. The prime minister said reading books by turning over pages gives her different pleasure-it’s the reality. Sheikh Hasina said Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela got the recognition as the biggest book fair of the world in terms of duration. “This book fair is not only a centre of buying and selling of books now, simultaneously it’s a name of traditional get-together and festival for the Bangalees,” she said. The prime minister said the Bangalees living in different corners of the world come home every year on the occasion of the book fair. The foreign nationals visit the fair to witness Bangalees’ love for books, she said. The prime minister lamented that she cannot visit the fair as she did in the past. “What will I do as my hands and legs are tied due to my state responsibility … when everybody comes to fair, my mind remains here.”
