CA calls for spread of book reading habit

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Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed Saturday called for spreading book-reading habit to every nook and corner of society as a movement to march on the path of progress, reports UNB.
The head of caretaker government (CG) also requested people to buy at least one book each month as per their capability as well as present book as gift to the loved ones in social functions.
Fakhruddin made the call while inaugurating the fortnight-long 14th Dhaka Book Fair 2007 (from December 1 to 16) at the National Parade Square at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city, organised by the Cultural Affairs Ministry and Jatiya Grantho Kendra (National Book Centre). The theme of this year's fair is 'Anando O Samridhhir Jonya Boi' (Book is for Pleasure and Prosperity). About 123 publishers were participating in the fair.
On behalf of civil society, former Vice-chancellor (VC) of Jahangir Nagar University Zillur Rahman Siddiqi and Mohiuddin Ahmed, the proprietor of University Press Ltd (UPL), on behalf of publishers also spoke at the inaugural function presided over by Cultural Affairs Secretary ABM Abdul Huq. Director of the National Book Centre M Mahmudur Rahman delivered the address of welcome.
The CA regretted that, nowadays, the tradition of presenting book as gift at family and social functions has almost disappeared. Instead, giving unnecessary or eye-catching items has become a practice of the day. "Let's give up this habit," said Fakhruddin, whose CG kicked off widespread sociopolitical reforms.
It is universally recognised that there was no alternative to book to build a knowledge society, he said. However, in many cases, it's not possible in Bangladesh to build up family or personal library. But it is not impossible at all to establish library at each para or village, or at least in union, with combined efforts, he noted and hoped that local governments would play their pivotal role in the future in this matter.
He, however, said many socially conscious individuals and institutions have already come up in this sector as mobile library has been set up in some places Appreciating such initiatives, the CA held out government support in this regard, if necessary.
"Book movement has a close relation with library and book fair. We will have to further strengthen this movement to build up skilled and creative human resources in the country."
He told the audience that appeal of book was forever and universal so the demand and necessity of book did not decrease even in the age of Information Technology and Internet.
Responding to the suggestions made by Zillur Rahman Siddiqi and publisher Mohiuddin Ahmed, the CA expressed the hope that the Cultural Affairs Ministry would take those into account for realisation and examination.
In his speech Siddiqi said that in a country library played a big role in expansion of writing and reading book.
"There may be library movement merely in name but not in existence in the country," he told the function. Citing newspaper reports about misuse of money in the name of book project in the past, he said for this reason "fake writers and publishers have been created".
He emphasised publication of good books, creation of atmosphere of buying books and holding book fair all the year round in various parts of the country on small and big scale.
Publisher Mohiuddin Ahmed raised some demands regarding national book policy, waiving tax on book publication.
Later, the CA went around some bookstalls of the fair.