The British Council celebrated the national library day 2020 

In collaboration with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Department of Public Libraries, the British Council's Libraries Unlimited Programme has celebrated the National Library Day on Wednesday under the theme 'Porbo Boi Gorbo Desh, Bangabandhur Bangladesh' (We will read books and create Bangabandhu's Bangladesh).

The day started with a rally which was inaugurated by State Minister for Cultural Affairs, KM Khalid. Then a discussion meeting took place at the Shawkat Osman Memorial Auditorium, National Public Library. Agriculture Minister, Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, attended it as chief guest. 

Dr Md Zafar Iqbal, eminent writer and former Professor of Shahjajal University of Science and Technology, presented the key note paper. Md Abdul Mannan Ilias, Director General (Additional Secretary) of Department of Public Libraries presided over the discussion meeting. During his speech as a Chair, Ilias stated, "The Libraries Unlimited Programme has been very supportive in developing new and innovative services for the government public libraries of Bangladesh." 

The British Council organised a sharing meeting on "Toy Brick play activities in government public libraries of 64 districts" in the children reading room of the Sufia Kamal National Public Library. Md Abdul Mannan Ilias, attended the meeting as the chief guest. Director British Council Bangladesh, Tom Miscioscia, attended as special guest.

A toy brick play session was also organised with 30 children in the same venue. To celebrate the theme of the National Library Day 2020 the children built the Jatiyo Shagsad Bhaban with toy bricks under the leadership of Juditha Ohlmacher who already developed a model of Shagsad Bhaban after one year of labour and with 8000 toy bricks. 

The first library day was recognised by the government on February 5, 2018, to raise public awareness on libraries.