The 59-year-old Central Public Library at Shahbag will be made a world-standard entity by building an 11-storey structure there ensuring modern facilities and also setting up National Museum and National Book Centre on the same compound.
“The central Public Library will be modernized at the level of world-standard by constructing an 11-storey structure at the same venue with all modern facilities for the users,” Director General of Public Library Directorate Ashish Kumar Sarker told on Sunday.
Besides, the adjacent National Museum and the National Book Centre at Gulistan, he said, will be relocated on the same compound.
The DG said the initiative for the proposed public library was taken as per the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the demolishing works of the existing library building will begin on June-July next year.
“All sorts of necessary facilities of a modern library – – including general library, science library, reference reading room, separate auditorium for children and juveniles, food corner, gymnasium, rooms for autistic and senior citizens – – will be available here . . .,” he mentioned.
He categorically said the government’s high-up directed the concerned authority to give the existing central public library a modern look of international standard and preparations are underway in this regard.
Bangladesh Central Public Library started its journey with only 10,040 books on Dhaka University campus under the cultural division of Education Ministry on February 5, 1958.
Later, it was kept open for all from March 22 in the same year. Subsequently the library was shifted to Shahbag in 6480 square feet area in 1978. The library was affiliated with the cultural ministry as separate directorate in 1983.
Source: BSS
