Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder and chairman of Bishwa Sahitya Kendra (BSK), said remaining books in society are very important for existing human civilization as books make humans civilized.
The renowned educationist also said books help people to acquire knowledge about the outside world and underscored the need for reaching books at the doorsteps of the readers to encourage them to read.
Apart from this, books enlighten people and easy and creative books are essential for the mental development of children.
Prof Abu Sayeed made the observation while opening 'Batighar Library' at Khansama Chalk area in the city on Saturday afternoon as chief guest.
On the occasion, he also illustrated his around 45-year journey and continuous efforts of building book reading habits among the students.
Commissioner of Rajshahi division GSM Jafarullah, Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Anisur Rahman and its Additional Commissioner Bijoy Basak and Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Shamim Ahmed also spoke on the occasion with Owner of Batighar Deepankar Das in the chair.
Renowned economist Prof Sanat Kumar Saha, writer Mohiuddin Ahmed and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Editor of Batighar Jafar Ahmed Rashed also spoke.
Prof Sayeed told the meeting that the book reading programme has been continuing in 15,000 schools with the initiative of BSK at present and the programme will be expanded in future.
He said students should develop a good reading habit for a life-long learning experience. Reading is important because it stimulates students' minds with enriched thinking power.
Without reading, one's thinking ability, personality and intellectuality cannot be expanded and a good nation cannot be built, he added.
Prof Sayeed also mentioned that there is no substitute for reading books in the practice of knowledge-science. Students of every educational institution in Bangladesh should spread the habit of reading books.
He continued that the development of reading habits brings some advantages to our students. First, a good habit is assumed to be able to improve an individual's characteristics as a better person, to increase our knowledge and ability in using the language.
