Public good over relaxed life

They gave up the common thinking of enjoying a relaxed retired life. Instead, they chose to do something worthwhile, not just for themselves, but for people around their community.

To implement the idea, the couple spent all of their retirement funds to establish a library so that people can read books and enlighten themselves.

"We think the habit of reading books is one of the key ways to enlighten one's soul and conscience," said Nazrul Haque Nilu, a former professor of political science department at Banaripara Degree College in Barishal.

Driven by that spirit, Nilu and his wife, Mahamuda Begum Manu, a former teacher of Saheed Ziaur Rahman College in Barishal, set up a library at Kawnia area in the city, all out of their own pocket last year.

Those who frequent the library are full of praise. Talking to The Daily Star, Enayet Hossain Shiplu, who visits the library regularly, said, "I think the library is helpful because I can get multiple types of books including history, novel, science fiction and others."

Nilu, who retired in 2017, is currently serving as the district unit president of Workers Party of Bangladesh (WPB). 

The couple accumulated all of their savings and retirement benefits and built a three-storied building at Nilu's ancestral home in Mansabari Lane of Kawnia.

The library is situated on the first floor while the third floor is also dedicated for the purpose. The couple lives on the second floor. 

But it was expensive, and just their retirement funds wouldn't get the job done. So they resorted to selling their land to come up with Tk 1 crore the project required, Nilu said. 

And then, after all of the planning and execution, and hard work, the "Nilu-Manu Trust and Public Library" now stands proudly for Barishal's readers' to indulge in.

But then there are variable costs to cover as well.

"We spent almost all of our money to construct the building and set up the library. But there needs to be a flow of money every month to pay utility bills, to buy news books and to appoint cleaners, guards and librarians," said Manu, who retired last year.

So they arranged for another chunk of money, to be kept in the bank as fixed deposit. The interest from the deposit will go some way to cover the costs, while the couple are also looking to rent out three flats of the library building to tenants.

Currently, there are around 3,000 books in the space, and it can accommodate some 25 people at a time. It is kept open for all from 10am to 1pm and from 4pm to 8pm everyday, including public holidays.

Khalid Md Saifullah, assistant director of Barishal Divisional Public Library, welcomed the initiative and suggested that the initiators can file an application to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs for cooperation to improve the library.

"As far as I know, the ministry has a project under which the government provides books to libraries that are set up by personal initiatives that create reading opportunity for all," the official added.