bKash, the country’s largest mobile financial services provider, has modernised the library of the St Joseph Higher Secondary School in Dhaka as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.

The initiative aims to create an improved reading and learning environment for students and was dedicated to the memory of late Mahfuz Sadique, a former student of the institution and former Chief Communications Officer of bKash, said a press release issued on Thursday.

The modernised library of this seven-decade-old institution will now facilitate around 50 students at a time. Besides, the current students can also borrow books using membership cards to read them at home.

Alongside infrastructural renovations, the technical facilities in the library have been further enhanced.

Several high-performance desktop computers with internet connectivity have been installed, allowing students to explore a vast collection of e-books, both local and international.

Marking the occasion, a special memorial programme was held at the school premises in remembrance of Mahfuz Sadique.

The event was attended by Kamal Quadir, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of bKash, Major General Sheikh Md Monirul Islam (Retd), Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer of bKash, Dr. Brother Leo James Pereira, Principal of the school, Dr. Maliha Muzammil, wife of late Mahfuz Sadique, and family members; school alumni including Kazi Mahmood Sattar, IDLC Chairman, and Professor Imran Rahman, Special Advisor to the Board of Trustees of ULAB as well as current students.

Mahfuz Sadique was an alumnus of St. Joseph Higher Secondary School in Dhaka, where hecompleted his SSC in 1998. During his time at the institution, he was an active debater and laterbecame the president of the Debating Club at North South University.

He established a distinguished career in journalism and digital media, having served for over a decade at BBC London. This veteran journalist was also associated with teaching at SOAS University of London. Later, he served as the Chief Communications Officer at bKash from 2021 until his demise on December 29, 2023, at the age of 42.

As a socially responsible corporate company, bKash has been supporting Bishwo Shahitto Kendro’s book-reading programme since 2014 to cultivate reading habits among the younger generation.

So far, more than 400,000 books have been distributed to libraries of over 3,000 institutions, directly benefiting more than 3.4 million readers.

At the same time, bKash has also been modernising the libraries of different institutions across the country.