Bishwo Shahitto Kendro (BSK) has awarded 6,194 school students for winning in its book reading competition, through a prize giving festival in the capital.
The two-day ceremony started at Suhrawardy Udyan yesterday.
A total of 4,177 students from 59 schools received books as their prize on the first day while the remaining 2,017 students from 31 schools will be awarded today.
Around 40,000 students, from class-VI to X, of 100 educational institutions in Dhaka city participated in the competition last year, said the organisers.
The awards are being given under four categories -- “Shagoto Puraskar”, “Shuveccha Puraskar”, “Ovinandon Puraskar” and “Sera Pathok Puraskar”.
BSK has been conducting the book reading programme for 40 years with the motto "Alokito Manush Chai (We want enlightened human beings)". At present, almost two lakh students of 2,000 educational institutions across the country are engaged with the book reading programme.
Founder and President of BSK Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed said, "I believe those who have got the prize for reading books have more developed mental strength than others."
Eminent writer and novelist Prof Muhammed Zafar Iqbal said the number of readers would increase if they get interesting books as prize.
Anisul Hoque, associate editor of Prothom Alo, urged the students to read more and more books.
Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, former principal secretary to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), said, "I do not want you to become bookworms; rather I want you to be the flowers of books."
BSK hosts the ceremony in association with Grameenphone.
