Feature

Let's read books, let's get enlightened

Md. Saimum Reza Talukder

ON 9th April, the prize giving ceremony of Bishake in Chittagong region was held on the premises of Chittagong Municipal Model High School. Last year about 5000 students from 56 different schools of Chittagong Metropolitan area participated in the Books Reading Programme. Among them, 2090 students were awarded with books through an evaluation exam. It was the part of Bishake's 26-years long Nationwide Enrichment Programme where about 2 lac students from 1800 different schools from all over the country took part last year.

The students started to arrive early in the morning which made the place wear a festive look. At around 9:00 am Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed inaugurated the event. In the opening speech, Professor Alex Alim, coordinator of Bishake (Chittagong region) thanked all the students, guardians, and patrons for helping Bishake to run the programme in Chittagong City. Prominent actor Khairul Anam Sabuj told the students to be worthy people to make the dreams of the nation come true. Famous litterateur Lutfur Rahman Riton remarked that children are the most beautiful beings on earth for which they deserve the most beautiful prize - books. He also recited a rhyme for the students in the programme. Chief Education officer of the Chittagong City Corporation Professor Iftekhar Ahmed Khan, Grameen Phone's Head of Business Marketing (Chittagong) Shahin Chowdhury and Municipal High School's Headmaster H M Fazlul Kader were present among the special guests.

In his speech, Prof. Sayeed said that narrow-minded people and big nation cannot run together. In order to build a big nation, people must be progressive and enlightened. So, Bishake is trying to enlighten them through the books with the theme “Alokito Manush Chai” (We want enlightened individuals). He is hopeful that our country will be a developed one someday as the enlightened students of this movement will run the country in future. He urged the students to get ready to take the lead in the near future and said, “let us read books, and let us be enlightened”

Afrin from Dr. Khastagir Govt. Girls' High School was excited as she never saw so many students receiving prize in a ceremony. Prottasha from Aparna Charan City Corporation Girls' High School was happy to receive prize from Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed. On the other side, Arif from BAF Shaheen School was thankful to the Bishake as their school attended this programme for the first time. Nira, a 5 year old girl was strolling all around the ceremony with her brother. Reshmin Akhter, Vice Principal of Chittagong Cantonment Public School was amazed to see the management of the programme that more than 2000 students received prizes so swiftly. Hanifa Begum, a guardian thanked Bishake for running such a wonderful programme in Chittagong where the scope of such extra-curricular activities is comparatively less than the Capital city.

The guardians were also encouraged as two of the guardians were also awarded with books through lottery. At last, Prof. Sayeed announced the most surprising news. For the first time, two of the participants will get the chance to travel to three countries through an essay writing competition. It made the participants extremely happy.

The sponsor of the ceremony was Grameen Phone while books were distributed by the courtesy of Delta Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Besides this, Nestle Bangladesh served noodles and coffee in the event. The whole programme was jointly organised by the Bishake and Chittagong City Corporation.

(The writer is a School Organizer, Bishake and Student of Law, University of Chittagong)