From dropout to librarian: Harun Mia’s inspiring journey to educate his town

In a small corner of Gouripur town, the aroma of fresh tea meets the quiet world of literature. This unique fusion is the work of 26-year-old Md Harun Mia, a tea seller and the General Secretary of the Bashundhara Shuvosangho Gouripur Upazila unit.

Poverty initially forced Harun to drop out of school after his secondary exams. He started "Harun Tea House" on a hotel veranda in 2012 to earn a living. However, his belief that education is the only path to freedom led him to re-enrol through the Bangladesh Open University in 2018. After clearing his higher secondary exams, he is currently studying in the second year of his degree programme.

Driven by a desire to inspire others to read, Harun established the "Harun Library" next to his tea stall in 2023. What began with just 100 books has grown into a collection of over 1,500 titles serving more than 400 readers. Students from local schools and colleges regularly visit to read while sipping tea or borrow books to take home.

Harun’s journey has been marked by significant struggle. Following his father's death from cancer in June 2023, Harun became the sole provider for his mother and younger sister. Despite these responsibilities, he continued to manage the library.

When he faced an eviction crisis in late 2024, local leader Shankar Ghosh Pilu provided space in the Kalikhala Temple to keep the library running. By March 2025, Harun rented a new room on Hatem Ali Road to restart both his stall and the library.

His initiative has gained national attention. Book lovers across the country now send donations, and renowned author Imdadul Haq Milan, Editor-in-Chief of Bashundhara Shuvosangho, gifted over 100 books to the collection.

Beyond literature, Harun uses his platform to drive social change. He organises rallies against drug abuse and corruption, using slogans such as "Drink tea instead of drugs; read books to reduce mobile addiction." He also honours his most frequent tea customers and top readers with annual awards.

Bashundhara Shuvosangho remains a steadfast supporter of Harun’s mission. The organisation has already donated over 100 books and pledged further assistance. Shankar Ghosh Pilu, President of the Gouripur unit, noted that while the town has several libraries, Harun’s initiative is one of the few that remains truly vibrant.

"We lag far behind developed nations in reading habits," Harun said. "To bring the youth from darkness to light, there is no alternative to books. Drugs destroy our generation and corruption blocks our development. My goal is to make people book-oriented, and my protest against social ills will continue."