DHAKA, Dec 1, 2025 (BSS)- The 18-day Oitijjhya Book Carnival 2025, organised on the occasion of the silver jubilee of Oitijjhya Publishing House, ended at Bangla Academy on Sunday (Dec 30) with huge public participation and diverse programmes engaging book readers. Seven shops were set up by Oitijjhya Publishing House at the event on the Bangla Academy premises.  During the carnival, visitors browsed various stalls, spoke with sellers and described the overall atmosphere as pleasant and much engaging.  Visitors said they enjoyed finding books by different authors together and had already purchased their preferred titles and some just came to see the carnivals. Jannatul Naeem who came to visit the carnival said the book fair was her favorite place to visit, adding that books were available at a 71 percent discount. Another visitor, Zubair Helal from Uttara, said he came to the carnival with his friends after hearing about the event. Sihab, a seller at 'Nirbachito' stall, an affiliate of the Oitijjhya Publication, said sales were going well as the event marked their 25th silver jubilee.  He noted fewer buyers during the day but higher turnout in the afternoon and evening, especially students from Dhaka University and nearby areas. He said books by Bangladeshi, Indian and international authors, including American and Oxford titles, were in demand, with supply struggling to keep pace. He added that most books at the fair were by Bangladeshi authors, with discounts of up to 71 percent attracting strong sales.  Children's books, as well as books on the July Uprising, Liberation War and Language Movement, were also selling well. Fair manager Mohammad Hossain Khan Kajal said the annual fair was being held again on the occasion of their 25th anniversary, with a slightly expanded scope this year.  He added that the Oitijjhya has several branch institutions across the country, including Nirbachito, Kakatua, Sutar (a children's publication), Grifar English Publications, and Ilham Islamic book publications, and that works by more than 30 authors were available at the fair. On the occasion of the carnival, 30 new books were released. However, the publication arranged several diverse programmes to drag readers and the visitors. The programmes included staging theatre drama, open quiz, live Q&A sessions, book-reviews competition, Tea with Publisher, Talk with Writers, Book Influencer Get Together, July Kobita Sondhya, and Oitijjhya Folk Mehfil. These programmes brought together readers, writers and bookworms all together serving urges to produce interacting community who love books across the country. 

KHULNA, Dec 1, 2025 (BSS) - Different organizations in Khulna held doa mahfils and Quran recitation programmes seeking the speedy recovery and long life of the former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Bangladesh Nationalist Weavers (Tanti) Dal Khulna metropolitan chapter held a doa mahfil and Quran recitation on Sunday afternoon at the party office. Md Abu Sayeed Sheikh, member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Weavers' (Tanti) Dal central committee and convener of the Khulna metropolitan chapter, presided over the programme. Abul Kalam Azad, chief convener of the Tanti Dal central committee, attended the programme as the chief guest, while Shafiqul Alam Tuhin, general secretary of BNP Khulna city unit, was present as the chief speaker. Meanwhile, the National Teachers Association (NTA) of Khulna University (KU) unit and the University Teachers Association of Bangladesh (UTAB) arranged a doa mahfil at the KU central mosque after Zuhur prayers. KU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Md Rezaul Karim, Pro-VC Dr Md Harun-ur-Rashid Khan, Treasurer Prof Dr Md Nurunnabi, KU NTA President Prof Sheikh Mahmudul Hasan, and General Secretary Dr Md Nazmus Sadat, among others, were present. Senior Imam of the KU central mosque, Mufti Abdul Quddus, conducted the doa mahfil. Meanwhile, the Khulna LPG Gas Owners Association organized a doa mahfil at its city office seeking the swift recovery of Begum Khaleda Zia.