S DILIP ROY, Lalmonirhat

In remote Tipar Bazar village under Lalmonirhat’s Aditmari upazila, evenings that were once quiet and dark are now filled with poetry recitations, songs and lively discussions.

At the centre of this change is Sarpukur Jubo Forum Pathagar, which has grown from a modest library room into a vibrant centre of cultural and social activities.

The transformation has been led by Jamal Hossain, 23, a postgraduate student in Dhaka. He started the library with a few friends in 2014 with just 10 books in a tin-roofed room furnished with old chairs and tables.

Over the years, the collection has grown to more than 15,000 books.

In 2020, Jamal also launched an initiative to encourage reading by placing books in barbershops in his village.

“Our Barbershop Library initiative has now spread across the country. Readers’ response has been overwhelming, and the demand for new books keeps growing,” Jamal said.

For promoting reading habits and community engagement, Jamal received the National Youth Award last year. He has also received several national and local honours.

The library has also undergone renovation, carried out at a cost of Tk 30 lakh. It now runs in a concrete building equipped with bookshelves, computers, laptops, lighting and space for cultural programmes.

Shaheen Hussain, director of Robin Printing and Package Limited in Dhaka, contributed nearly 90 percent of the renovation cost after learning about the initiative through a report published in The Daily Star. The local administration also provided support.

The library now hosts regular cultural programmes, including poetry recitations, debates, music sessions and reading circles. Young people also receive training in music, art and computer skills.

College student Niramoy Kumar Roy said the library has become an important part of students’ lives.

“We have access to different books and newspapers here. We also practise music, art and computers, and organise debates ourselves. It’s helping us grow intellectually,” he said.

Schoolgoer Asha Akter and retired college teacher Sunil Kumar Sutradhar echoed the same sentiment.

The library now has several hundred members and attracts visitors from different walks of life, including students, farmers and homemakers.

Farmer Abdul Kader said he often reads books on agriculture at the library to learn modern farming techniques.

Jamal said his goal remains simple: to spread reading habits in rural communities and transform Tipar Bazar and nearby villages into “reading villages” with bookshelves in every home.

“Books free us from darkness,” Jamal said. “I want every boy and girl in this village to read for at least some time every day.”