To encourage a reading culture among students nationwide, bKash has contributed 367,520 books to the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro’s (BSK) Book Reading Program over the past 12 years.
As part of its ongoing efforts to create an enlightened society, this year alone, over 40,000 books were presented to Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, the Founder and Chief Executive of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro.
Major General Sheikh Md Monirul Islam (Retd), the Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer at bKash, officially presented the books during an event held at Kendro’s auditorium in the city on Tuesday, said a handout on Wednesday.
Since 2014, nearly 3,000 educational institutions have received these books, reaching over 3.4 million readers.
This year's distribution will target 330 educational institutions, including 80 new schools participating in the book-reading program.
For several decades, Bishwo Shahitto Kendro has been running this program at educational institutions throughout the country. The initiative aims to introduce students to important works of both local and international literature beyond the academic curriculum.
Alongside building reading habits, the program plays a significant role in shaping students’ intellectual and moral development.
To make the program more engaging, quiz competitions on contemporary topics are organized at district and upazila levels for students from grades 6 to 10. Winners of these competitions are awarded books and certificates.
For 13 consecutive years, bKash has remained associated with the reading program, aiming to strengthen and expand its mission to cultivate enlightened generations.
Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, the Founder and Chief Executive of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro, said that a positive environment can lead to the creation of enlightened individuals. bKash has collaborated with the organization’s reading program, which emphasizes knowledge cultivation, the development of reading habits, and the nurturing of enlightened minds.
The enduring partnership between the two organizations for such initiatives is exceptional and will continue.
Major General Sheikh Md Monirul Islam (Retd), Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer of bKash, remarked, “Enlightened individuals contribute to a developed nation. One of the primary ways to become enlightened is to read more books and acquire knowledge beyond academic teachings.
As part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility efforts, bKash has a long-standing association with the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro’s book-reading program to foster an educated and intellectually enlightened generation”
Among others, Executive Director of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro Khandakar Md Asaduzzaman; Joint Director (Program) Mesbah Uddin Ahmed Sumon; EVP and Head of Regulatory & Corporate Affairs Department of bKash Humayun Kabir, and Vice President Sayma Ahsan were present on the occasion.