Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, adviser to the Interim Government’s Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives, announced the auspicious inauguration of 44 public libraries under construction through upazila parishads. The announcement was made during a ceremony held at the Cabinet Division meeting room in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday.
Asif Mahmud stated, “The greatest investment in building an advanced society is in education and the pursuit of knowledge. That is why we have taken the initiative to establish a library in every upazila.”
He further mentioned, “In the first phase, the Local Government Division has allocated a total of Tk23.32 crore, with Tk53 lakh allotted for each of the 44 libraries across 11 districts.”
Calling upon everyone to join in this vision, the adviser emphasised making knowledge the pathway to progress. He added, “Special consideration has been given to upazilas with lower literacy and higher poverty rates, particularly in the northern region, to ensure the construction of quality libraries.”
Asif Mahmud highlighted that special attention has been given to the architectural design, environment, and management of the libraries to attract students and encourage intellectual engagement. He also thanked officials from the Local Government Division and the Department of Public Works for swiftly completing groundwork and construction activities.
Responding to journalists’ questions regarding the selection of upazilas for library construction, the adviser clarified that the choices were made based on equitable budget distribution to truly underserved areas, “without political bias or vindictiveness.”
When asked about the Dhaka South City Corporation, Asif Mahmud stated, “The government has shown considerable patience and sincerity regarding the closure of the city corporation building. However, civic services have declined by 30-40%. Any decision on this matter will be taken collectively by the interim government.”
The event was chaired by Local Government Division Secretary Md Rezaul Maksud Jahidi. Also present were the Chief Engineer of the Department of Public Works, senior officials from the Local Government Division, journalists, and other stakeholders.