In a joint collaboration, The Asia Foundation and Unesco Dhaka Office recently held a virtual launching event and panel discussion on their inititiative for producing children's books on traditional games.

The event is part of celebrating 50 years of independence and birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It was supported by Unesco at its 40th General Conference, said a press release.

The Asia Foundation in Bangladesh and Unesco Dhaka Office joined forces to produce and disseminate books and reading materials focused on cultural heritage of Bangladesh, and to promote reading among children and youths.

As an outcome of this partnership, 11 books were prepared on traditional games of Bangladesh under the theme of '"Let's Read about Heritage''. 

The content was developed by reputed children's book writers and illustrators under the overall guidance of the two organisations. 

The books were approved and appreciated by National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) and Bangladesh National Commission for Unesco.

The e-book versions of the 11 books are publicly available free of charge on The Asia Foundation's Let's Read's Digital library (reader.letsreadasia.org/all/new).

Md Shohel Imam Khan, deputy secretary general, Bangladesh National Commission for Unesco, joined the discussion as special guest and delivered his opening remarks. 

Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder and chairperson of Bishwa Sahitya Kendra; Sara Zaker, actor, director and co-producer of Sisimpur; Prof AKM Reazul Hassan, member of primary curriculum at NCTB; Beatrice Kaldun, head of office and Unesco representative to Bangladesh; and Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj, country representative of Bangladesh at The Asia Foundation, joined the panel discussion. 

The discussion was moderated by Kizzy Tahnin, programme officer for culture at UNESCO Dhaka Office.