Home ›› 14 Nov 2022 ›› Nation
Ignoring public welfare and violating social norms, an Awami League (AL) leader has set up his personal office in the public library of Savar.
Local people alleged that Masud Chowdhury, former joint general secretary of AL Dhaka district, has been using the Savar Public Library, located at Adhar Chandra School Road at Savar union under Savar upazila, as his political office for over a decade.
The library that once thrived with the hubbub of book lovers has now turned into a meeting space for the district’s ruling party leaders. Various political meetings of AL and its associate organisations are regularly held in the library, alleged the local people and students.
According to the local people, one Rakhal Chandra established the library in 1939. After his death, the government took over the library, turning it into the public library of the Savar municipality. For decades, the library was an attractive centre for the book lovers of the locality.
However, after AL leader Masud Chowdhury was elected the general secretary of the library, he turned it into his personal political office. Now the library is temporarily closed to the public, alleged the locals.
The glass-bound office room of the library is now Masud Chowdhury’s personal office where he holds political meetings.
Not only are various political meetings organised in the library, but elections of the Deed Writers Association were also held there. Political leaders and activists even have meals at the readers’ tables.
The library is located next to Savar Government College; however, the students of the college are deprived of any benefits from this public knowledge hub.
Zisan, a student of Savar Government College, said although the library is right next to their college the students cannot go there. “I once went there, but could not enter as a political seminar was going on. I have not tried ever since,” he said.
On condition of anonimity, a former Chhatra League leader said other than the signboard and the rows of books inside, it is a public library in name only.
“Students want to study in peace and quiet, but the environment of the library is not student-friendly anymore. The general public is afraid to go there since political meetings are frequently held there,” he said, adding that a political leader should not use public property as his personal office.
Savar Adhar Chandra Government High School Headmaster Ratan Peter Gomez said a public library should be open to all, but he refused to comment on the particular library being used as a political office.
Sachetan Nagorik Committee (SANAK) member Advocate Imam Hasan Bhuiya said the public library should not be used as a political office.
“It should be a place where people of all ages can read books in a peaceful atmosphere. If teenagers and the youth spend their days reading books, they will become less inclined towards crime and violence,” he said.
Hasan also added that it is necessary to bring back the proper reading environment in Savar Public Library and make sure it is accessible to everyone.
Contacted, AL leader Masud Chowdhury categorically denied the allegations, saying it is part of a conspiracy against him.
He, however, admitted that seminars are sometimes held in the library and it was used for an hour for a few days during the elections of the Deed Writers Association and the election of the municipal mayor.
It was also used for 3/4 days to hold meetings during the 2018 national elections, he added.
Masud Chowdhury said, “I do not believe that a few meetings and seminars at the public library disrupt the overall reading activities of the people.”
“Although all sorts of political leaders and activists come here, I have not turned it into a political office of my own,” he claimed.
In this regard, Savar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and also president of the public library Majharul Islam said that he was unaware of the library being turned into a political office.
“I will look into it and if the allegations are true then proper actions will be taken,” he said.
