BOOKS, BOOKSTORES, AND BANGLADESH

I love travelling and books; what I love more is travelling with books. I have never been on a trip, domestic or international, where a book wasn't in my backpack. And every time I step into a bookstore, my eyes search for any hint of a book that's about Bangladesh or authored by my compatriot. More often than not, I am disappointed.

On my last trip to Southeast Asia, as I scanned through the aisles of the bookstores, I could only find outdated versions of Bangladesh travel guides. That too, kept in the bottom rows behind other books, out of plain sight.

So I took the matter on my own hands – bookstores around the world, here's my confession:

If you ever find a book about Bangladesh placed at an arm's reach, somewhere easily visible, or in the best spot on a shelf - know that it was me. It's a promise I have made to my motherland, that I will do my best to put her on the map.

Or in this case, on the top shelf.

– Kazi Akib Bin Asad, Sub-editor, SHOUT