Furthering the legacy of the late Amanullah Khan, chairman of United News of Bangladesh (UNB) from its founding to his death last September, his family has donated the vast trove of books left behind in his personal collection as educational materials to the library of the Asian University of Bangladesh (AUB).

The university organised a memorial event in his honour on Thursday, marking National Library Day.

His wife Shirin Khan, a renowned social worker, spoke at the event.

She said, “Throughout his career, Amanullah Khan’s greatest passion was reading and collecting books. They weren’t just a part of his life - they were his life. Our home overflowed with books, and no matter where he went, he carried cartons of them with him. To him, books and libraries were everything.”

Reflecting on their 53 years of marriage, she recalled, “Our memories are knotted with books. While Amanullah was a chartered accountant by profession, his true passion was journalism and books. I am pleased to be able to hand over these books to you today.”

Mohammad Zafar Sadiq, Chairman of AUB’s Board of Trustees, said, “Amanullah Khan has set an example of generosity. Today, his family has demonstrated that generosity by gifting books. People die, some leave behind lasting legacies. Amanullah Khan has left a vast repository of knowledge for the university.”

Upon receiving the books, AUB's librarian Rabeya Akter said, “Amanullah Khan and Shirin Khan had no children; books were like their children. Today, they have entrusted us with this invaluable treasure. These books will remain in our library as a precious asset.”

AUB’s Dean of the Business Faculty, Professor Nurul Islam, said, “This donation from Amanullah Khan’s family is a highly valuable gift for students, teachers, and researchers. This book donation is a form of ‘Sadaqah Jariyah’. May Allah grant peace to his soul through these books.”

Professor Zakir Hossain, Head of AUB’s Department of Government and Politics, also highlighted the lasting impact of Amanullah Khan in Bangladesh's news industry, saying, "UNB is a name that will forever be remembered in the news world of Bangladesh.”

“When we talk about UNB, Amanullah Khan’s name comes to mind immediately. He made a significant contribution to the growth of UNB, which continues to operate with great popularity today."

He also expressed gratitude toward Shirin Khan for her initiative, saying, "It is because of her that the university’s library received this precious book donation."

AUB Registrar M.A. Motalib said, “The university's library has become richer today with the addition of Amanullah Khan’s books. Amanullah Khan has shown us such generosity, and we are grateful to his family.”

Mohammad Nurul Islam, AUB's Treasurer and Acting Vice-Chancellor, said, “While we have heard much about Amanullah Khan, we were not fortunate enough to meet him in person. However, his work speaks volumes about the kind of noble-hearted person he was. We hope that these books will enlighten our students with the light of knowledge.”

The event began with the recitation of the holy Quran, followed by a welcome speech delivered by UNB’s Savar correspondent Nazmul Huda Shahin, in remembrance of Amanullah Khan’s legacy.