Play store
Ismail Hossain Shapon, Italy: The Bangla Press Club Italy has called for the establishment of a well-stocked Bengali library in Italy to promote the Bengali language, literature and culture among younger generations growing up abroad and encourage expatriates to maintain their reading habits.
The demand was raised at a literary gathering and exchange of views organised to mark the visit to Italy of Kamrul Hasan Shayek, managing director of Bangladesh’s leading publishing house Panjeree Publications Limited and a prominent writer.
The event was held at a local Sylhet Coffee Shop in Rome on Sunday evening. The club’s chief adviser, Lutfur Rahman, presided over the programme, while its organising secretary, Minhaj Hossain, moderated it.
The club’s General Secretary Labanya Chowdhury and Publicity Secretary Zayedul Haque Sohel delivered welcome addresses.
Speakers said books remained essential for preserving the practice of one’s mother tongue and maintaining an emotional connection with cultural roots despite the demanding pace of expatriate life.
They said establishing a permanent Bengali library in Italy had become necessary to strengthen the connection of expatriate Bangladeshis and their children with Bengali literature.
Kamrul Hasan Shayek, the guest of honour, praised initiatives to promote the Bengali language and culture among expatriates. He also assured the organisers of his full cooperation in efforts to establish the proposed library in Italy.
At the end of the programme, the Bangla Press Club Italy presented Shayek with a special crest in recognition of his contributions.
Among those attending as guests were former Italy BNP Vice-President Mainul Alam Khokon, former organising secretary Kamruzzaman Ratan, poet and writer Altaf Hossain, Greater Noakhali Association Italy President Alauddin Shimul, Noakhali Welfare Association President AK Azad, community figures Mozammel Hossain Molla and Nazrul Islam, women’s leader Johura Ishita, and Greater Sylhet Young Star Club President Prince Hasan Ahmed.
Leaders of local social, cultural and journalists’ organisations also attended the event.