There was a time when many young people retired and read books. They found a different kind of joy in unfolding new books and turning pages after pages. Among the teenagers born in the nineties, the books of Kazi Anwar Hossain's detective series Masood Rana or Muhammad Zafar Iqbal were very popular. Even at the beginning of the first decade of this century, young people used to hang out on the green grass of the university campus or in the tea shops. In those conversations, stories were told about art, literature, state, society, etc. Gradually the tide of that kind of chat has turned. There has been a massive spread of information technology; The social media of the internet has become very popular. Reading books has decreased, the usefulness of books has decreased. Different types of electronic devices are now the day and night companions of the educated young society. Sukumar's scholarships seem to be lost due to lack of mindfulness.
Now extremism has emerged as a serious problem in Bangladesh. Most of the people involved in the violent activities of the extremists are young. It has also been seen in the recent demolition of the Nasirnagar temple in Brahmanbaria, starting with the attack on the Holy Artisan in Gulshan. But youth is the age of creativity, the age of participation in good deeds, the age of beautiful life and dreaming of the world. The age to protest against all kinds of injustice. In the history of this country, the young society was the main life force of all the mass movements and struggles. It is a matter of great concern that a section of that young society is attracted to extremism and violence. The healthy mental and cultural development that takes place through the practice of sports, music, drama, film and art-literature, is now in great disrepair. The lack of practice of free will creates a backward narrow mindedness; Religious bigotry and sectarian violence took place. The tolerant mentality towards diverse thoughts and different views and attitudes is lost. Then the radical and communal forces tried to take advantage of it. They get a chance to mislead the young society.
Childhood is the beginning of personality development. This is the first step in becoming a real human being. Even some time ago, childhood in the villages and towns of this country was enjoyable on the whole. The children of the village had the opportunity to grow up in the close proximity of nature through various forms of entertainment including sports. Sports in a wide field, swimming in rivers or ponds, flying kites, going to school along the methopath — all these are very beneficial for physical and mental health. This is how the childhood of the village children was cut off. In the joint family system, everyone's love and affection was allotted to them. Listening to fairy tales on the faces of grandparents at night, they would get lost in the land of dreams.
Childhood was also very colorful in big cities and small mooseball towns. The schools had big fields and ponds next to the fields. The opportunity to play in the field and swim in the pond was free. There were fields and ponds in the neighborhoods. Apart from that there were various types of clubs and organizations. Sports like football, cricket, badminton, volleyball, hadudu etc. were played. There used to be drama and music programs. There were libraries in the neighborhood.
But today everything has shrunk. The fields and ponds are filling up fast. Sports, dramas, music programs are not like before. There are no clubs and children's organizations like before. Now rushing to school with a bag full of books; Running from one teacher to another to 'coach' even after returning from school. In this way the childhood of children is passing. Almost all the joys of childhood and adolescence seem to be lost.
Thus those who are setting foot at a young age, their mental development is not enough. They are moving away from the culture of reading books amidst the omnipresent influence of social media like Facebook, Twitter etc. Libraries are now a frustrating void. Bookstores are also declining. Aziz Super Market in Dhaka once had many bookstores. Now there are only a few. The number of bookstores in the Concord Emporium Market is also declining.
Books make people rational, make them think; Awaken his inner potential. But as a result of declining reading habits, we as a creative and thoughtful nation are not developing as much as expected. Free and open practice of knowledge is required to grow fully. There is no substitute for reading books to develop civilization and values.
Digital communication technology has created an unprecedented opportunity to spread information and knowledge. In many countries of the world, the use of electronic books or e-books as an alternative to printed books is increasing. But in a nation where the habit of reading books is low, or those who used to read books are disappearing, the tendency to read e-books is not going to increase much.
But there is no alternative to reading books in building a tolerant and humane society. For this, it is necessary to start a movement to build libraries and reading circles in the neighborhoods. E-books may also be included. Now e-books can be read and exchanged on mobile phones very easily. Combined initiatives are needed to develop the habit of reading books. Writers will attract young people through thoughtful and varied writing. Publishing companies should take the initiative to sell the book at a tolerable price. Parents will encourage children to read books. Thus reading books should be given the form of an overall social movement. Even if the reader does not go to the book, he has to take the book within the reach of the reader.
Bookshops or libraries should be set up in the main places of pilgrimage like stations, bus stands and big shopping malls.
In this case, the role of the government is not less. Large shopping complexes can be offered across a few bookstore conditions. Libraries and reading circles can be set up even in small tea shops. Government-initiated book reading programs can be started in schools and colleges.