Students urged to read books to lead nation

Books are like open windows through which light of knowledge and wisdom can have an entry into one's life, said Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed yesterday.

"Only books can expand our minds. If we want to build a big Bangladesh, we must widen our hearts first," the noted educationist said at a prize giving ceremony of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro (BSK) in the capital's Shilpakala Academy Auditorium.

BSK organised the programme to award 537 students of 11 colleges in Dhaka Metropolitan area who were selected last year from among 1,719 college students in four categories -- "Swagoto Puraskar", "Shuveccha Puraskar", "Ovinandon Puraskar", and "Sera Pathok Puraskar".

BSK Founder Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed suggested that the children should read books only for pleasure.

At the programme, Deputy Editor of the Bangla daily Prothom Alo Anisul Hoque informed the students about an Iranian judge who has recently made reading books compulsory for prisoners as their punishment.

But the students do not need to read books as a punishment rather they should develop the habit of reading books only for pleasure.

Media personality Abdun Noor Tushar asked the students to emerge as the light of the society for making a prosperous Bangladesh.

The speakers also urged the students to spend time in reading books in order to enlighten themselves and achieve the qualities of good citizens to lead Bangladesh in the future.

BSK Trustee Khandker Asaduzzaman and its director Aminul Islam Bhuiyan, also a former secretary, spoke at the programme.

The students were from Notre Dame College, Rajuk Uttara Model College, Holy Cross College, Dhaka Commerce College, Dhaka Cantonment Public Girls' School and College, Viqarunnisa Noon College, Jatir Janak Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Government College, Shaheed Begum Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Government College, Shahid Zia Girls' School and College, Shahid Bir Uttam Lt Anwar Girls College and Adamjee Cantonment College.