Two-day prize distribution ceremony of Bishwa Sahitya Kendra’s book reading programme ‘Utkarsha’ commenced at Shikha Chirantan, Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital. As part of the programme, over 6,000 student of 2017 session from different students of Dhaka city will receive prizes. The inauguration ceremony was held this morning underneath Shikha Chirantan, Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital. Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder of Bishwa Sahitya Kanedra released balloons in the sky along with the invited guests.
Through the programme, being arranged with assistance from Grameenphone, prizes were handed over to 6,194 students from 90 schools in three phases. On Friday morning, prizes were handed over to 2102 students from 30 schools. In the second phase, 2075 students from 29 schools will receive prizes. On Saturday, prizes were distriuted among 2017 students from 31 schools.
Honorable Prime Minister’s former Principal Secretary and prominent poet Dr. Kamal Abu Naser Chowdhury, Eminent writer, columnist and teacher Professor Muhammed Zafar Iqbal; littérateur and journalist Imdadul Haque Milon; Secretary of the ministry of shipping and distinguished poet Md. Abdus Samad; Prominent actor, translator and writer Khairul Alam Sabuj; writer and deputy editor of Daily Prothom Alo, Anisul Haque, and Grameenphone’s Director of Stakeholder Relations, S.M. Raihan Rashid and Bishwa Sahitya Kendra’s Founder President Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed were present at the inauguration ceremony.
At the inauguration ceremony, Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed termed book reading as a weapon for building the nation, and said, “I believe that those who are present today and receiving prizes for reading books have a very superior mental strength than others. By reading these books, you are having fun and a time well spent. Those who can spend their lives reading books are the luckiest human beings and only books can do this.”
Honorable Prime Minister’s former Principal Secretary and prominent poet Dr. Kamal Abu Naser Chowdhury said, “At this very field formerly known as Race Course field, I came to hear the historic speech of March 7, 1971. So, I am a witness to the history. Standing in this very field, I am telling you that if you read books, you can hear the roaring sound of the sea. I don’t expect you to be bookworms. Rather I wish that you would be the flowers inside the book.”
Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal said, “I want you all to use technology. But, I don’t want you to be manipulated by technology. Gift a book today to those friends of yours who do not read. Thus, the number will multiply and everyone will be a reader. ”
Prominent littérateur and the editor of Daily Kaler Kantha Imdadul Haque Milon congratulated the students who received prized saying, “We have our independence for the sacrifice of 3 million myrters. You are the architect of that country and it will be built by you. You are future Bangladesh.”
Writer and deputy editor of Daily Prothom Alo, Anisul Haque said, “My suggestion for you is to read a lot of books. If you become enlightened by reading books, Bangladesh will eventually be enlightened.”
Noted actor, translator, and writer Khairul Alam Sabuj congratulated the students and said that we have a beautiful dream about the students. In order to make that dream come true, the students must read.
