Ruman calls for reviving reading habit among younger generation

Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman has called for reviving the habit of reading books among the younger generation.

“The spread of the internet and technology has driven many young people away from books. Yet books are an important source of knowledge and learning, and everyone should develop a passion for reading,” he said.

Ruman was speaking as the chief guest at an event at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital on Friday.

Recalling his student days, the additional press secretary said, “When we were students, from Class VII to XII, we used to keep track of newly published books. We read books by Humayun Ahmed, among others. We also read a lot of Dasyu Bonhur, written by Romana Afaz of Bogura, and Masud Rana.”

He said, “One of my friends sitting here is Faruk Wasif, director general of the Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB). We used to share books. Sometimes, we would save our tiffin money. Our school was about two kilometres from home. Although we were given money for rickshaw fares, we used to walk to school.”

Comparing the present generation with his student days, Ruman said the habit of reading books had declined significantly.

He said everything was now available online in the age of the internet, and young people were increasingly using mobile phones to explore different subjects.

 “I think everyone should develop this passion — reading books. There is so much to learn from books,” he added.