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The University Grants Commission (UGC) has launched a policy initiative to preserve rare private book collections across Bangladesh by creating digital archives, aiming to safeguard valuable literary and research resources for future generations.
As part of the initiative, the UGC has facilitated the preservation of nearly 10,000 rare books from the personal collection of Daily Jugantor Editor Abdul Hai Shikder at the central library of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR), where a dedicated special collection will be established.
The decision was taken at a meeting on Wednesday between UGC Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed, Abdul Hai Shikder and BRUR Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Shawkat Ali at the UGC headquarters. Senior UGC officials, including Director (Additional Charge) of the Public Relations and Media Division Mohammad Jaminur Rahman, were also present.
During the meeting, the UGC chairman directed the university to complete the collection and preservation process by December 2026, assuring the commission’s full technical and policy support.
He said preserving rare books in physical form alone would not be sufficient, stressing the need to digitise the collections to ensure researchers and readers at home and abroad can access them easily through online platforms.
Calling the initiative a significant step towards protecting the country’s intellectual heritage, he said the UGC is considering a broader policy framework to identify, preserve and digitally archive valuable personal libraries across Bangladesh.
Abdul Hai Shikder said his collection comprises around 10,000 books on Bengali literature, world history, science and research, many of which were inherited or collected over several decades from different countries.
He warned that nearly 3,000 rare volumes are at risk of permanent deterioration unless immediate preservation measures are taken.
Recalling the fate of renowned linguist Dr Muhammad Shahidullah’s personal library, where many rare books were reportedly lost or sold as scrap due to a lack of institutional preservation, Shikder said he wanted to ensure his lifelong collection remained accessible to scholars and future generations.
Inspired by the example of noted academic Syed Ali Ahsan, who donated his personal library to Jahangirnagar University, Shikder said he had decided to donate his collection to BRUR.
Vice-Chancellor Dr Shawkat Ali welcomed the initiative, saying the collection would significantly enrich the university’s library resources and strengthen research opportunities for students and academics.
During the meeting, Shikder also proposed establishing Nazrul Centres and reinstating Nazrul Professor chairs at public universities to promote research on the life and works of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
The UGC chairman said the proposal would receive serious consideration as part of the commission’s efforts to strengthen higher education and research in Bangladesh.
