If technical books are written in the mother tongue, it can help inculcate the subject matter and knowledge more clearly and deeply in common readers and students, education minister Nurul Islam Nahid said on Saturday. “Most of the technical books are written in English. As a result, laypersons and students do not understand the subject matter easily, clearly and deeply. If these books are written in Bangla, it would be more effective for them,” he said.
Nahid made these remarks at a ceremony marking the release of a book on ‘General Knowledge on Urology’, authored by Prof. Dr MA Salam, at the Dr Shaheed Milon Hall in the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in the city.
“We need knowledge of English, but if the technical books are written in Bangla, it would easily expand the knowledge and help remove ignorance and protect people from dangers. We have to look into the matter,” he said.
Lauding the book, he said, “Such a health-related book written in Bangla will increase the knowledge and awareness among common people and remove the ignorance of people about health-related issues.”
“If many people like Dr Salam come forward and write technical books in Bangla, it will be helpful for all. We have a Bangla-speaking population of 30 crore around the globe. If books are written in Bangla, many people could read them,” he said.
Nahid also said, “Our habit of reading books is poor. We have to increase it to expand our knowledge in the present era of science and technology.”
Regarding doctors, he said that there are many skilled physicians of international standard in the country, but they need opportunities to exercise their skills. “We lack opportunities, machines and the proper environment for the physicians. If we can ensure these, we would be able to address many problems. Many patients would not go abroad for treatment then,” he observed.
He also said that both men and women are moving forward and making their contributions in different fields.
“Poverty, illiteracy and corruption are the prime reasons why we are lagging behind. But we have to overcome them and have to make the new generations aware of modern knowledge,” he said.
Mahbubul Alam, editor of The Independent, said that there have been massive changes in medical science over the last six decades and Bangladesh has progressed to a great extent as a result of the contribution of the devoted physicians.
Expressing his appreciation of the book, he said, “Such a book is helpful not only for physicians but also for laypersons. Dr Salam has shared his knowledge with people through this book by writing it in Bangla.”
“But many technical books are not properly edited before publication. Attention should be given to this aspect,” he pointed out.
Praising the work of education minister Nurul Islam Nahid, he said, “We need such ministers who want to serve the people and are dedicated and above greed.”
Mahbubul Alam, who is also the former advisor to the caretaker government, appealed to the minister to support writers like Dr Salam, who are writing books on medical subjects.
“The young writers should also be encouraged to enrich the subjects with their writings in this regard,” he added.
Among others, national professors Dr MR Khan and Dr Shaila Khatun, BSMMU vice principal Pran Gopal Datta, Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons president Prof. SM Golam Kibria, BSMMU’s urology department chairman Prof. AKM Anwarul Islam, Prof. Maj. Gen. (retd) Md Ali Akbar, Bishwa Sahitya Kendra founder Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Urology and Transplantation Foundation of Bangladesh vice-president Prof. Khurshid Jahan Mowla and former secretary Shahidul Islam also spoke on the occasion.
Abu Sayeed said, “We don’t have enough Bangla books on technical subjects. Their number should be increased. Though there are some individual initiatives in this regard, the government should come forward here.” He further said that there is no alternative apart from learning through the mother tongue.
Pran Gopal Datta said steps should be taken to write books in Bangla so that students and laypersons can learn them more easily.
Prof. MR Khan said the book has extensive coverage on different aspects of urology, from Egyptian to Greek to the modern era, and would be helpful for all.
Prof. MA Salam said, “Many people, including ministers, still lack confidence in the treatment facilities in Bangladesh. But their mindset changes when they come to know about the skill of our physicians from foreign doctors. We have many skilled physicians and we have to have repose trust in them.”
As an author, he said the book written in Bangla would be helpful for both common people and students in order to remove misconceptions and to learn the basic concepts of urology.
-With The Independent input
