Dhaka: To build reading skill and develop a habit of reading of children Room to Read arranged ‘Launching Ceremony of Library 2018’ on 23 July at Bangladesh Shishu Academy.

Primary and Mass Education Minister Advocate Mostafizur Rahman, MP, was present at the event as the chief guest. Along with him, Dr. Md. Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, ndc, Director General (Additional Secretary), Directorate of Primary Education and Anisul Hoque, Litterateur and Editor, Kishor Alo were present there as special guests, says a press release.

Rakhi Sarkar, Country Director of Room to Read Bangladesh, in her welcome speech mentioned the importance of children’s storybooks and child-friendly learning environment in development of quality education. She added that around three lakh children of more than one thousand government primary schools have received around six thousand classroom libraries. She also mentioned that Room to Read Bangladesh has published 103 Bangla storybooks of which about 8 lakh copies have been distributed to primary schools so far. All the activities are highly recognised and appreciated by government officials, school authority, parents and children. She added that the close collaboration between Directorate of Primary Education and Room to Read has built an ideal and splendid example to improve children’s quality education.

The Literacy Programme Operation Officer Monzur Elahi presented overall activities of Room to Read Bangladesh.

He said Room to Read started it work since 2009 to create the education opportunity for children by its ‘Literacy Program’ and ‘Girls’ Education Program’.

He also explained aim and objectives of the literacy programme of Room to Read. In addition, he discussed in details about the roles of the classroom based libraries to improve reading skills and reading habit.

Anisul Hoque in his speech said Room to Read is taking classroom library to children. Currently we are in tension about our young generation. Only books are the best help. I feel young generation needs to read literacy, needs to ready books. In this regard, what Room to Read is doing is the best work. To be established in life everyone has to read book beside the text book.

Dr. Md. Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal in his speech said, ‘The collaboration between Room to Read and government is an excellent example of public private partnership. In our urban life we cannot give child-friendly space to children. The library programme of Room to Read has prepared this space. Our government is doing lots of work for education like training for teacher, research opportunity.’

He invited Room to Read to continue their work with government.  

Minister Advocate Mostafizur Rahman appreciated Room to Read’s work and published child-friendly storybooks. Called everyone to work together in his speech he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to meet education sector goals and commended Room to Read’s effective contribution to boost the sector. He committed to continue government’s support to Room to Read. Later, the minister launched the library of 40 government primary schools of Dhaka district with the book captains.

Recalling Room to Read’s slogan ‘World change starts with educated children’, Badruzzaman Khan, Program Operation Director, appreciated government’s support in furthering its mission and vowed to continue partnership with government to attain the common vision of quality education and lifelong learning for all.