RANGPUR, April 2, 2022 (BSS) - Book-reading habit enhances knowledge by removing ignorance and immorality from the mindset of people to enlighten them and the society as a whole.

     Literary personalities viewed this at the concluding function of the nine-day Rangpur Book Fair-2022 organized by Sommilito Lekhok Samaj, Rangpur (SLSR) on the Town Hall Baddhyabhumi ground here on Friday night.

     Different publication houses and literary organisations set up 16 stalls on the fair premises.

     Hundreds of people visited different stalls in the fair everyday, purchased novels, story books and collections of poems, books for children and other popular books.

     Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan attended the function and distributed honorary mementos among seven literary personalities and crests among three best organisers of the book fair as the chief guest.

     Presided over by Convener of Rangpur Book Fair Implementation Committee Manjil Murad Lavlu, its Member-secretary Rezaul Karim Jibon moderated the function.

     Heroic freedom fighter Akbor Hossain, literary personality and educationist Professor Mohammad Shah Alam, literary personalities and researchers Rezaul Karim Mukul, Sayeed Shahedul Islam and Zakir Ahmed addressed the function.

     The seven recipients of honorary mementos are literary personality and educationist Abul Kashem, poet and writer Bashar Ibn Zahur, writer and organizer Kazi Mohammad Junnun, rhymer and lyricist Mahabub Rahman, writer Swattik Shah Al Maruf, fiction writer Rana Masood, rhymer and lyricist S M Khalil Babu.

     Later, crests were distributed among the three best organizing members of the book fair Anindya Awal, Mamun Ur Rashid and Shravan Bangali.

     At the end, a pleasant cultural program was arranged under the direction of composer and vocalist Farhan Shahil Leon.

     Maria, Sabuj, Manik and Leon performed songs in the cultural program.

     The chief guest said the nine-day book fair created interests among people, especially young generations, in book-reading, literary and cultural activities.

     He urged all concerned to arrange book fairs regularly to generate interest among people by bridging them with books and inspiring in building book reading habits to become knowledgeable citizens.