The divisional public library in Chattogram city was closed in 2018 for renovation, with plans to reopen it within three years. The target was to resume operations in 2021. But despite the deadline passing, the work has not been completed even after seven years, leaving readers and locals frustrated.
According to project officials, the project tenure has been extended six times so far. The latest extension expired in June 2024. Although construction of the main building has been completed, interior decoration and installation of the central air-conditioning system are still ongoing.
Speaking about the project’s progress, Principal Librarian and Deputy Director Debashish Bhadra told TIMES of Bangladesh, “Around 95% of the project is complete. Construction work on the building has finished. Only some interior tasks and installation of the air-conditioning system remain. We hope to reopen the library by June next year.”
Readers and writers in Chattogram have expressed anger over the prolonged closure. Writer Asif Ahmad told Times, “There are very few public libraries in Chattogram. Having this library closed for seven years has severely deprived readers. We demand its immediate reopening.”
It has been learnt that the library has added 5,000 new books under the ongoing project, on top of its previous collection of around 104,000 books.
According to library and local sources, the Chattogram Muslim Institute Hall was established in 1925 by cultural and social activists, serving for nearly a century as a hub of political, cultural and social activities in the city. The government took over the institution in 1959. In 1963, limited library services began on the premises. A separate multi-storey public library building was later constructed beside it in the 1990s.
Under the new project, the 15-storey library building includes nine separate reading rooms with seating for 1,500 readers at a time. It features large and small seminar halls, a dedicated children’s floor, special reading facilities for persons with disabilities, a research centre, an ICT library, a canteen, a rest house and dormitory facilities.
The expanded infrastructure also includes an eight-storey Muslim Institute Hall with a 900-seat auditorium, a 350-seat mini auditorium, two seminar rooms with 100 and 200 seats, an art gallery and a souvenir shop. An open public plaza, Shaheed Minar, open-air theatre, pond, sculptures, garden and landscaped areas have also been constructed.
