So, the far-reaching importance of reading in individual, social and national life cannot be exaggerated. World famous personalities like Maxim Gorkey, Leo Tolstoi, Francis Bacon, Benjamin Franklin, Rabindranath Tagore, and Omar Khyyam underscored the need of reading books in their writings. The first message from Allah to the Great Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (S)* was "Ekra", means "Read". Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has made the world smaller and invented many things. But since no one has yet invented a device to supplant the books, many countries have been taking and implementing various programmes to promote reading habit in their societies.
 

* Here "(S)" stands for  Sallellahu Alayhi Wasallam means  "Peace beyond on him / May  Almighty bliss Great Prophet."

Bangladesh became independent in 1971 after a nine-month bloody War of Liberation with the sacrifice of millions of lives.  Though it is a new country it has a long history and cultural heritage.

Tradition was that in the remote time, literate, half-literate boys, girls, men and women in the villages were clustered in Puthi Reading Parlour (School for reading from manuscripts). It is also recorded that since ancient times high government officials, professional people and all other literary and culturally minded people were accustomed to reading books. Some of them even maintained personal/ family libraries. The trend became more common in modern times.  In the 19th century, Zaminders (Landlords) played a special role in this regard and turned out to be great patrons of learning .

Here in this article we only refer to a number of  big public libraries, e.g. Jessore Institute of Public Library, Rangpur Public Library, Woodburn Public Library-Bogra and Barisal Public Library which were established under the auspicious of concerned Zamindars of the areas. The establishment of such libraries played pivotal role in promoting reading habit in the country.

After one hundred years of the establishment of the above mentioned four non-government public libraries, the first government public library in Dhaka was established in 1954 which was opened to users in 1958. To provide reading facilities to the people and to promote reading habit of the people a number of seven more government public libraries at the district and divisional levels were established before the country's independence. 

After independence a new organisation named Bangladesh Parishad was constituted under the Ministry of Information. The Parishad undertook long term plan to set up one public library in each subdivision for paving the way of reading facilities for the people. In late 70s, the government undertook a major programme by way of opening night schools to increase the literacy rate as well as to promote reading habit of the people of the country. This was a milestone to motivate grass-root level people towards reading books.

The National Book Centre (NBC) is another semi-government organization under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs which has been playing pioneering role in promoting reading habit in the country since its inception in 1962. NBC was the first agency to introduce government financed mobile library service in Bangladesh with a view to generate reading habit among the people. Its regular publication titled "Book" (monthly) is very much popular in the country's book-lover's arena. NBC is the national focal point of non-government and locally patronised libraries located in remote areas of the country. At present there are 1043 such libraries which get annual grant of books from the NBC as well as financial help from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

Viswa Shahitya Kendra (the World Literature Centre), a registered non-government literary library located in Dhaka has created a history in promoting reading habit in Bangladesh. This centre under the revolutionary initiative of its Founder President Professor Abdullah Abu Sayed was set up in 1978 with the aim of diverting the youth of the country towards self-development through reading habit. The principal and far reaching slogan of this centre was "WANT ENLIGHTENED MEN" which stirred not only the youth but also the entire society of the country. The centre organises various programmes like Book Reading Competition in different areas for encouraging the youth to develop their talents. Within a few years, the noble philosophy and activities of the centre became well known throughout the country. At present the centre has 500 sub-centres with 1,000,000 registered and regular readers. The present activities of the centre are Mobile Book Fair, Nationwide Enrichment Programme, Library Reading Service, etc.
 

Readers borrowing books from "Mobile Libray" conducted by Viswa Shahitya Kendra (the World Literature Centre)

In addition to the above, many other non-government organizations like Community Development Library (CDL) and Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) have also taken programmes to promote reading habit among the people.

To boost up the reading promotional activities of the country, the Honourable Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia while inaugurating the Dhaka International Book Fair 2002 declared 2002 as the Book Year of the nation. The theme and slogan of the Book Year was "Books for prosperity of mind". To make the Book Year a success,  government agencies like Central Public Library, the National Library of Bangladesh, National Book Centre undertook various programmes under the guidance of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. The programmes included the arranging of discussion meeting on themes like Pleasure in Reading Book, Seminar, Book Fair, opening new branches, etc. in the upazilla, district, divisional levels of the country. The National Book Centre has released special issue of "Book," printed special envelope, banner, festoon, sticker, poster, used extract from Honourable Prime Minister's speech like "Present books to your nearest and dearest" in government letters, arranged special publicity in print and electronic media, special grant of books for  private libraries, reading and recitation competition etc.

 The theme of the library year is to set up a library in each and every village (county) of the country and to generate more readers in view of expanding a reading society in a massive way. The Government has declared 'Pohela Baishakh', the Bengali New Year, as the official day of presenting books to the nearest and dearest. The Prime Minister herself on this occasion received complementary books from the publishers, writers and distributed the same to her colleagues, distinguished personalities and to the poor students of the country. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has urged the well-to-do persons of the society to set up Home Library in addition to the contribution in setting up new libraries in their localities. The State Minister for Cultural Affairs Begum Selima Rahman herself has already inaugurated few such Home Libraries in Dhaka.
 

Begum Selima Rahman, M. Hossain Chowdhury, Honourable Minister & Secretary respectively, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, and Mr. Vollman UNESCO representative to Bangladesh, seen in a discussion meeting "Pleasure in Reading Books" organized by Central Public Library on occasion of "2003, Libarary Year of Bangladesh".

The declaration of 2002 as the Book Year and 2003 as the Library Year in two consecutive years by a head of government seems to be first and unprecedented in the world and it has  made a cultural history  in promoting reading habits in Bangladesh.

The most important step already taken by the Government in the Library Year 2003 is the decision to keep the Central Public Library in Dhaka open round the clock.  The above initiatives in connection with the promotion of reading habits  indicate a clear signal to the nation and the world at large that Bangladesh is moving towards right direction to meet the challenges of the 21st century as well of globalisation by way of developing its human resources .