Sporsho launches 14 Braille books

Sporsho Braille Prokashona yesterday celebrated its decade-long journey through various activities at the capital's Bangla Academy.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid was the chief guest while Rabiul Hussain, a poet and architect, presided over the programme participated by over 200 guests.

Mahboob Zaman, managing director of DataSoft and former president of BASIS; Md Atiqul Islam, MD of Islam Group and ex-president of BGMEA; Modiful Haque, a trustee of Liberation War Museum; Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury, UN representative for people with disabilities; Prof Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, eminent writer and academician, were the special guests.

The celebration started with the national anthem by inclusive participation from students of all walks of life including children with special needs.

“We should enlighten every life through books. No one should be left out from the joy of reading books. All the new techniques including braille should be welcomed,” said Sporsho founder Nazia Jabeen.

Congratulating Sporsho on serving the underprivileged, Nasrul Hamid said, “I am honoured to be present in this enlightened celebration. Sporsho has showed us that visually impaired people are not visually impaired.”

The celebration ended with “Amar Katha”, a cultural performance by visually impaired students; and an award giving ceremony of the competitions on debate, chess and music.

A CD of music and 14 Braille books, published by Sporsho, were launched at the programme. Sporsho, founded in 2008, is the first organisation in Bangladesh to have published Braille books for the visually challenged, focusing on entertainment and culture since 2009.