Sporsho provides free books for visually challenged people

on Mar 02, 2022

Near the exit of the Bangla Academy part of Amar Ekushey Book Fair, the stall of Sporsho Braille Publication grabs the attention of the visually impaired readers as it offers them free braille books on registration. Sporsho, a non-government initiative for visually challenged people, celebrates the publication of its 100th braille book this year. The publication has brought eight new braille books in the book fair with an aim to make reading more accessible to visually impaired people.

“More than 70 people have already registered with Sporsho during the book fair time,” said Sporsho Braille Publication stall attendant Arifur Rahman. “We do not sell our braille books. Visually impaired people come to our stall and read the books during the book fair time. “Sporsho offers free braille books to them after their registrations and it is also free,” added Arifur Rahman.

Torikul Islam Najim, a visually impaired person and student of Shahid Suhrawardy College, is a frequent visitor to the book fair for the last couple of years. He comes from Narayanganj almost every day spending all day reading available books in braille, a tactile writing system, especially for visually impaired people. “I love to read books but braille books are not widely available. Every year I come here to read some new books,” said Najim. “Very few books are found in braille. We want to read more, know more but cannot,” added Najim.

Books of different genres for visually impaired people are not available at all, however, Sporsho publishes books on stories, poetry, and novels in braille. Nazia Jabeen, the publisher of Sporsho Braille Publication, said, “We are publishing seven to eight books every year, however, the number is not adequate.”

“Publishing braille book is expensive. Visually impaired people will be benefited if various organizations come forward and publishing houses take initiatives to publish braille books,” added Nazia Jabeen. Bangla Academy director general Mohammad Nurul Huda inaugurated a structure of prison at Suhrawardy Udyan displaying the book cover of Karagarer Rojnamcha on Tuesday. A discussion on ‘Tribute: Jamilur Reza Choudhury’ was held at the main stage on the Bangla Academy premises.

A total of 69 new books were launched on Tuesday and the total number of new arrivals reached 1,595 so far on the 15th day of the country’s annual book fair.

The fair will open at 3:00 pm on Wednesday.