State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain has said that it is unusual to have 29 books written by an additional secretary in the list of 1,477 books to build the reading habits of government officials.
He made the remark while replying to a question from reporters at a discussion organized by Dhaka University's Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall unit Chhatra League on the occasion of the National Mourning Day on Sunday.
The state minister for public administration said: "If the books which are really good and expensive are the books of any government official, then there is no problem but the real question is – how did so many books by an officer make the list? It is indecent to have 29 books by one person.”
Stating that the list contains some of the best books, Farhad Hossain further added: "Then again, it is not mandatory for officials to buy all the books on the list. Just the names of the additional secretary’s books are included in the list. But nowhere was anyone forced to buy these books.”
He also said, "His books were not purchased even in Dhaka because no one was forced. His books should not be on this list, but his books were not bought. Those famous people in the world are famous for the history of our country. There are also novels written and well-read on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”
“However, we will investigate how so many books by the same officer came about and if his books are being forcibly purchased anywhere. But we have not found any such case,” the minister said.