Book reading habit crucial to enhancing knowledge: speakers

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RANGPUR, April 01, 2018 (BSS)-Literary and cultural personalities at a
function here have called upon the citizens for building book reading habit
to enhance their knowledge.

The call came at the concluding ceremony of the 15-day Rangpur Book Fair-
2018 organised by Rangpur Sammilito Lekhok Samaj (SLS) on the Public Library
ground in the city on Saturday night.

A total of 35 stalls were set up on the fair premises by 26 publication
houses including 23 from the capital city and three local literary
organisations, said member-secretary of the fair organising committee Rezaul
Karim Jiban.

“The visitors purchased books worth Taka 30-lakh including novels, story
books, dramas, poem collections, books on the War of Liberation and history,
books for children, other popular books displayed in the Ekushey Book Fair-
2018 in the capital city,” he said.

Seven literary personalities were honoured in the concluding function for
their laudable contribution to the field of literature.

They are: freedom fighter Akbar Hossain, Rezaul Karim Jiban, Advocate MA
Basher Tipu, Professor Md Shah Alam, Anwarul Islam Raju, Mahbubul Islam and
Rakibul Hasan Bubul (posthumously).

Besides, Divisional Commissioner Kazi Hasan Ahmed was awarded with a
special citation for patronising and extending assistance to arranging the
fair.

Noted literary personality and former head of the department of Bengali of
Carmichael College Professor Muhammad Alim Uddin attended the concluding
function as the chief guest with convener of fair organising committee Sayeed
Sahedul Islam in the chair.

Noted cultural personality Dr Mofizul Islam Mantu, adviser of the fair
organising committee Poet AKM Shahidur Rahman Bishu, freedom fighters
Mozaffar Hossain Chand and Akbar Hossain and writer Aftab Hossain addressed
as the guests of honour.

The speakers suggested arranging similar book fairs frequently to create
interests among the people, especially young generations, in building book
reading habit to enrich their knowledge on literature, culture and heritage.

The chief guest laid emphasis on increasing the habit of reading books by
all people and encouraging others to acquire more knowledge in building an
enlightened society and further enriching our cultural and literary
heritages.