Liberation War stories reach the blind
converted volumes to DU Central Library
Ripa Tabassum, a fourth-year student of political science at Eden Mohila College, was reading from the first page of Muhammed Zafar Iqbal's "Muktijuddher Itihash". It was obvious she was overwhelmed with joy. But she cannot see.
A Braille version made the small book on the Liberation War accessible by Ripa.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "If you do not look at her hands it is hard to believe that she reads the book in such spontaneity," said Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, who was among her audience.
The reading was part of a ceremony at the VC's office where publication house Sparsha Braille Prakashana handed 16 different Braille books over to the DU authority.
Prof Arefin Siddique said the initiative reflected "humanity, patriotism and love for wisdom".
The Braille books include Mofidul Haq's "Shey Kon Rabindranath", Taha Yasin's "Kazi Nazrul Islam", Humayun Ahmed's "Botol Bhut", Faridur Reza Sagar's "Cox's Bazar-er Kakatua", Ferdausi Majumder's "Nuri Kahini", and Nazia Zabin's "Ek Sagar Rokter Binimoye".
The books will be kept at DU Central Library. Visually impaired students of the university will be able to collect those and read, said Mohammad Sarower Hossain Khan, its assistant librarian, also visually challenged himself.
He added that DU had some 50 visually challenged students at present.
Attending the ceremony, publisher and Liberation War Museum trustee Mofidul Haq said though the event was arranged on a small scale, it gave a big message.
DU Pro-VC Nasrin Ahmed and Bangla Academy Director Shahida Khatun also spoke.
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