Mashahid Ahmed:
A unique event, Book Reading Festival-2026, has started in Srimangal Upazila to instill the habit of reading books among the mobile phone-dependent generation and encourage knowledge. In this festival organized by the Upazila Administration, Srimangal, students from various educational institutions of the upazila, as well as book lovers in the open category, are getting the opportunity to participate. On Tuesday (July 21) at 10 am at the inauguration ceremony organized at Srimangal Government Girls’ High School, Srimangal Upazila Parishad Administrator and Upazila Executive Officer Md. Ziaur Rahman officially inaugurated the festival. The event was moderated by the President and Executive Director of Srimangal Recitation Festival, Debashish Das, and the Acting Headmaster of Srimangal Government Girls’ High School, Md. Kamal Uddin, Victoria High School Headmaster Ayan Chowdhury, Notre Dame School and College Principal Father Prashant Nicholas D’Cruz. Local dignitaries and education enthusiasts were present at the time. According to the organizers, more than 25,000 competitors are expected to participate in this year’s festival, including secondary, higher secondary, undergraduate/postgraduate and open categories. The festival is being held in four categories. In ‘A’ category, students from sixth to eighth grade, in ‘B’ category, students from ninth and tenth grade, in ‘C’ category, students from eleventh grade to undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and in ‘D’ category, book lovers of any age in Srimangal outside educational institutions can participate. The competition will be held in three stages: Bud, Flower and Fruit. In each stage, the competitors will have to read the prescribed stories, novels and other books outside the textbook and take part in the written and oral tests. Only after successfully passing each stage, will they get the opportunity to participate in the next stage. A total of 15 book pools have been determined for the first phase of Mukul, suitable for different classes. About 22,000 students from 38 secondary and higher education institutions in Srimangal Upazila will take part in the written examination on August 3 after reading the prescribed books. Then, the participants in the second phase will take part in the oral examination in their respective educational institutions after reading a new book. From there, those selected will participate in the third and final phase of Phaul at the upazila level on another new book. As a result, a contestant will have to read three separate books throughout the entire festival. One of the attractions of this festival, which lasts for about a month and a half, is the open section, where book lovers of any age in Srimangal who are outside educational institutions can participate. According to the organizers, the main objective of this event is to develop reading habits among the young generation in the digital age, develop creative thinking skills and establish books as an integral part of life. Srimangal Avarit Utsav is the coordinating partner for this event and Uttaran, Srimangal is the reading partner.
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