A library for 4,000 Catholics in Rangamatia
by Sumon Corraya
The new facility is the brainchild of the local Christian credit union. The goal is to stimulate economic as well as intellectual growth. The facility will help make reading more popular, and “Young people will keep away from drugs, since they will be able to spend quality time".

Gazipur (AsiaNews) – The 4,000 people who belong to the Catholic Parish in Rangamatia, about 35 km from Dhaka, can now count on a brand-new library. The facility was created at the initiative of the local Christian Co-operative Credit Union, which is directly contributing the intellectual growth of parishioners.

“Books are the repository of knowledge,” the credit union’s vice president Rakhal Gomes told AsiaNews. “One day we will no longer be around, but our people will be enriched by the books in this library."

In Bangladesh, the creation of a library in a Catholic parish is a very rare event. Gradually, people are learning to understand the importance of such facilities.

"Our job is not only about people’s economic development, but also about their intellectual growth," Gomes pointed out.

According to another member of the financial institution, "the library will help create a culture of reading in our parish. Young people will keep away from drugs, since they will be able to spend quality time here."