The 18th Oboshor Pathagar (leisure library) has been inaugurated in Chattogram under the initiative of Swapnojatri Foundation with the slogan “Read books in leisure, become enlightened people.”
This initiative aims to make waiting time at bus counters, salons, and union parishad service centres more meaningful and enjoyable by promoting the habit of reading.
Books for the Swapnojatri Oboshor Pathagar were donated through Bashundhara Shuvosangho by Ekushey Padak-winning popular novelist Imdadul Haq Milan, teacher and writer Mainul H Siraji, Akhhorbritto Publications, teacher and writer Boby Barua, and several other writers and well-wishers, including Kharimati, Abir, and Bolaka Publications.
The programme began with the recitation of the Holy Quran. The event was conducted by Shafayet Rayhan Shihab, chief coordinator of the Oboshor Pathagar operations team.
Additional Deputy Police Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (West Division) Abdullah Mohammad Sheikh Sadi inaugurated the programme, while the chief discussant was Premier University Registrar Md Iftekhar Monir.
Special guests included Prof Boby Barua, trustee of the Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust under the Ministry of Religious Affairs; Pushpa Soltana, additional public prosecutor at the Chattogram District Judge Court; and Muhammad Obaidul Haq (Moni), CEO of Chakaria Max Hospital Ltd.
Other distinguished guests present included Jafar Iqbal, general secretary of SAARC Human Rights Foundation (Chattogram division); writer and essayist Nesar Ahmed Khan; counter manager Biplob Aich Babu; journalist and sports organiser Imran Emi.
Besides, Jahedul Alam Munna, Ahmed Ishtiaque Azad, Zaman Chowdhury Shiplu, Md Monir, SM Mizba, Md Jabed, Khanam Habib Mizbah, Irfan Azad, and Md Sawal were present, among others.
The event was chaired by Md Ziaur Rahman Chowdhury, general manager of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation and adviser of Shuvosangho, while the welcome speech was delivered by central general secretary Rubel Mahmud.
In his speech, Sheikh Sadi said such initiatives are timely and commendable for encouraging young people to read books.
He also mentioned that he himself borrowed and read books from their Dhaka Green Line counter library and assured full support for expanding the initiative.
Iftekhar Monir said there is no alternative to reading books for bringing about positive change in society, adding that utilising leisure time through knowledge practice would play a significant role in building an enlightened society.
Prof Boby Barua said books are a key tool for shaping human thinking, values, and consciousness.
He added that such initiatives help make leisure time meaningful and contribute to positive, knowledge-based social change. “Swapnojatri Foundation’s noble initiative truly deserves appreciation.”
The initiative began in 2020 with the establishment of the first Oboshor Pathagar at the Paharika bus counter in Rangamati.
Since then, 17 libraries have been set up in different parts of the country, including Chattogram, Dhaka, Bandarban, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Narayanganj, and Rangamati. With this continuation, the 18th Oboshor Pathagar has now been inaugurated.
