It was a day of joy for visually impaired children as four new books in Braille were launched at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair yesterday.
Sporsho Braille Prokashona, a publication for visually impaired, unveiled the books at the Nazrul Mancha in presence of 14 visually impaired students of Baptist Mission Integrated School and Jan-e-Alam Government High School. A cultural programme was held that commenced with a chorus. Visually impaired students from Dhaka University and Eden College also joined the programme to inspire the juniors.
Starting journey in 2011, Sporsho Braille Prokashona has so far published 24 books in Braille. The four books published yesterday are Hanif Sanket’s “Binito Nibedon,” Najia Jabeen’s “Ek Shagor Rokter Binimoye,” Lutfor Rahman Riton’s “Akashe Onek Chhora” and Foridur Reza Sagor’s “Cox Bazarer Kakatua”.
Monsur Ahmed Choudhuri, chairman of National Forum of the Disabled and representative at the United Nations, who is a visually impaired person himself, attended the programme alongside Shahidul Alam Sachchu, Mofidul Hoque and actor Afzal Hossain.
Amrin Nahar Rini, a class 10 student of Baptist Mission Integrated School told the Dhaka Tribune: “There are a very few number of braille books for us out there. Apart from our text books, we do not get to read stories, novels, and poems as much as we want. These books would be very helpful for us. I am very happy today.”
“I hope more books in Braille will be brought in the fair in future to help the visually impaired people get a taste of Bangla literature,” she added.
Nazia Jabeen, publisher of Sporsho Braille Prokashona, said: “We are getting remarkable response for our effort, but we could not bring a large number of braille books as we are a small organisation.”
“However, our target is to raise awareness among other publishers so that they bring in more braille books,” she said.
Bangla Academy authority celebrated its last “Shishu Prohor” yesterday from 11am to 3pm, five hours exclusively dedicated for children. Hundreds of children along with their parents thronged the fair. Though it was a public holiday a good number of visitors also came to the fair.
A total of 160 new books were published yesterday on the 22nd day of the fair including Syed Abul Maksud’s “Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani” from Agami Prokashoni, Syed Shamsul Haque’s “Kolomer Shonge Shongshar” from Ananya Prokash, Reja Ghotok’s “Ponchobhuteshu” from Chayabithi, and Selina Hossain’s “Judhdho” from Salma Book Depo.
A total of 20 new books were unveiled at the Nazrul Mancha including Additional Secretary of Information Ministry, Harun-or–Rashid’s “Putuler Ghor” from Shuchipotro Prokashoni in presence of theatre activist Mamunur Rashid.
A discussion on Krishno Mohon Bondopadhdhay was held at the central stage.
