Bishwa Sahitya Kendra celebrated its 40th founding anniversary amid festivities on February 8 at its Bangla Motor Head Office. A procession was brought out from Central Public Library in Shahbagh, which concluded at Bishwa Sahitya Kendra in Bangla Motor.

At the celebration programme, founder of Bishwa Sahitya Kendra Abdullah Abu Sayeed, former minister Rashed Khan Menon, former cultural minister Asaduzzaman Noor, poets Muhammad Samad and Tarik Sujat, rhymester Lutfor Rahman Riton, former director general of Bangla Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan, theatre activist Khairul Alam Shabuj, artist Mustafa Monowar, seasoned folk singer Mustafa Zaman Abbasi, TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman, science fiction writer Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, among others, took part.

Abdullah Abu Sayeed on his part said that he intends to increase the current readers' number of the library to 5 million by the end of this year from the present count of 2.2 million.

Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal said that whenever he comes across someone engaged with Bishwa Sahitya Kendra he observes that person with greater attention. He says that to become a deeper man-reading of books is a must which Sir Abdullah Abu Sayeed realised forty years ago.

After the procession, a lively cultural programme was held at Bishwa Sahitya Kendra where many artistes performed diverse songs. Besides, dance troupes presented Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Manipuri dance recitals to the delight of the audience.

Bishwa Sahitya Kendra was founded with the slogan 'Alokito Manush Chai'. It has been working to promote reading habits and progressive ideas among students and general public. Sayeed was given the 97th Ramon Magsaysay Award in journalism, literature, and creative communication Arts for cultivating in the youth of the country a love for literature and its humanising values through exposure to the great books of Bengal and the world.