For millions of Bangladeshi students, a book can be much more than a collection of words on paper. It can become a window into unfamiliar cultures, a journey through history, a lesson in science, an encounter with remarkable characters or an invitation to imagine a different world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the past 12 years, a partnership between bKash and Bishwa Sahitya Kendra has been working to make that experience accessible to students across Bangladesh. Through the initiative, more than four lakh books have been distributed to nearly 3,000 educational institutions, reaching more than 3.2 million students and readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The programme is part of Bishwa Sahitya Kendra\u2019s long-running effort to develop a thoughtful, knowledgeable and enlightened generation by encouraging young people to read beyond the boundaries of their textbooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For students such as Roksana Mimi of Charghat Pilot High School near Rajshahi, the experience has already changed the way she sees books. After reading a story from a collection of Chinese folktales about seven brothers with different extraordinary abilities, she found herself imagining what it would be like to possess such abilities herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That simple reaction illustrates the power of reading. A good book does not merely provide information; it encourages young readers to question, imagine, empathise and see possibilities beyond their immediate surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bishwa Sahitya Kendra has been promoting this culture of reading across Bangladesh for more than four decades. Its book-reading programme introduces students to literature, history, science, philosophy and other forms of knowledge that may not be covered extensively in the formal curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recognising the importance of such an initiative, bKash has supported the programme continuously since 2014 as part of its commitment to social responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although bKash is primarily known as a financial services provider, its involvement in the reading programme reflects a broader understanding of development\u2014one in which education, knowledge and creativity are considered essential foundations of a sustainable society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the past 12 years, more than 400,000 books supported by bKash have been distributed among educational institutions across the country. The programme has reached almost 3,000 institutions, with more than 3.2 million students and readers benefiting directly from access to the books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The initiative has also continued to expand geographically. Alongside established schools and colleges, around 100 new educational institutions are brought into the programme each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Particular attention is given to schools in remote and disadvantaged communities, where students often have fewer opportunities to access books beyond their academic textbooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For these children, a library filled with quality books can represent an entirely new world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder and chief executive of Bishwa Sahitya Kendra, believes school-going children are particularly important to the programme because their minds are highly receptive during these formative years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to him, introducing young people to some of humanity\u2019s greatest works of literature and knowledge while they are still developing can have a lasting influence on their personalities, values and ways of thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has also highlighted the significance of bKash\u2019s long-term support, noting that the four lakh books provided through the partnership have been read by millions of children across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The partnership, therefore, represents more than a corporate donation. It demonstrates how private-sector resources can be directed towards building intellectual and cultural capital among future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
bKash founder and Chief Executive Officer Kamal Quadir has described education and knowledge-building as important components of sustainable development. From its beginning, the company has focused on expanding financial inclusion and contributing to positive economic change, while also supporting initiatives that can create wider social impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reading programme reflects that philosophy by taking students beyond the limitations of textbooks and introducing them to new ideas, creativity and independent thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The books selected for the programme are designed specifically for students between the ages of 11 and 18. The collection includes literature, history, science, philosophy and other knowledge-based works appropriate for their age and intellectual development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For many students, the books become deeply personal experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hossain Kahn, known as Kabya, a student of St Joseph Higher Secondary School, says he enjoys reading a wide variety of books, with the Feluda series among his favourites. While reading about the adventures of Feluda and Topshe, he found himself identifying with the characters and imagining himself as part of their world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kabya, reading is not simply a pastime. It stimulates curiosity and creates the desire to explore and experience new things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rifat, a student from Rangpur, found a very different emotional experience through Victor Hugo\u2019s \u201cLes Mis\u00e9rables.\u201d The story affected him so deeply that he felt as though he could see the suffering of its characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having access to a library containing a wide range of books also made it easier for him to discover books that he might otherwise never have encountered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teachers and librarians have become an important part of this process. Simply delivering books to schools is not enough. Students need encouragement and guidance to discover books suited to their interests and abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sufia Sultana, an assistant teacher of library and information science at Charghat Pilot High School, recalls how one of the books received through Bishwa Sahitya Kendra helped make a difficult subject more accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The book \u201cLal Nil Dipaboli,\u201d which explores the history of the Bengali language, presents the subject in a story-like manner. This made it easier for students to engage with a topic that they might otherwise find difficult or uninteresting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For teachers, having quality books readily available in school libraries creates opportunities to introduce students to literature and knowledge in ways that classroom textbooks alone cannot always provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The impact of the programme extends beyond the number of books distributed. Its deeper significance lies in the experiences those books create.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A student reading a detective story may develop analytical thinking. Another reading history may gain a deeper understanding of society and civilisation. A child discovering science through an engaging book may develop an interest in a subject that could eventually shape a career. Literature can also teach empathy by allowing young readers to experience lives, cultures and struggles different from their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reading can therefore contribute to the development of imagination, creativity, analytical ability and human values alongside academic knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a country seeking to build a future based on knowledge and innovation, these qualities are particularly important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The partnership between bKash and Bishwa Sahitya Kendra demonstrates how sustained investment in reading can create opportunities for young people far beyond the classroom. By placing books in schools and encouraging students to explore them, the initiative is helping cultivate a generation that is not only better informed but also more curious and open-minded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The figure of four lakh books may be measured in numbers, but its real impact is far harder to quantify. Each book can spark a question, inspire a dream, introduce a new idea or change the way a young person understands the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And when those experiences reach more than 3.2 million students, the result becomes much larger than a reading programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It becomes an investment in the intellectual future of Bangladesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A news by Alisha Pradhan, General Secretary, HerNet Foundation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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