Speakers urge people to develop reading habits to broaden their knowledge

High-ranking officials and literary figures at a discussion today urged the cultivation of reading habits to foster the growth of knowledge and help eradicate ignorance and immorality from society.

They viewed this at the discussion arranged in the second Rangpur Divisional Readers' Conference 2026 held at the city's District Shilpakala Academy auditorium with the participation of authors, literary figures and representatives from 150 libraries.

The Bazlur Rahman Library organized the conference, featuring a variety of events throughout the day.

Additional Divisional Commissioner of Rangpur division Md Ashraful Islam attended the event as the chief guest with poet and researcher Adil Fakir in the chair.

Fiction writers Bishwajit Das and Sharif Ahmed attended the event as special guests.

Earlier, Founder of the Bazlur Rahman Library and literary personality Alhajj Bazlur Rahman Sarkar formally inaugurated the conference.

Assistant Director of the National Book Centre Mohammad Enamul Haque and former Head of the Department of Bangla at Rangpur Government Begum Rokeya College Professor Mohammad Shah Alam were keynote speakers.

Member-secretary of the Rangpur Divisional Readers' Conference 2026 Implementation Committee Nabir Hossain delivered the welcome address.

The proceedings were moderated by literary personalities Irshad Jamil, Lelin Basunia and Safura Begum.

The speakers said libraries have been playing a crucial role in enhancing book reading habits of people for centuries to enrich knowledge by removing lack of information to build a more civilised society.

They said libraries are the most enriched sources of knowledge about ancient and present societies, life, human philosophy, histories, civilisations, politics, country, literature and the globe.

The chief guest said that the library is one of the main centers for the intellectual and professional development of a nation.

"The library has a far-reaching contribution in spreading the light of knowledge among the general public. For this reason, the library is called the People's University," he said.

He urged everyone to turn towards libraries and cultivate a habit of reading, so that they may become knowledgeable citizens and contribute to building an enlightened society and a new, prosperous Bangladesh.