Century-old library building turned into officers’ club

The Gopalganj district administration has converted the century-old building of a public library into a government officers’ club, frustrating bibliophiles.

The library was shut down in 2024 amid financial constraints and a lack of activities. In October 2025, the administration moved some 12,500 books to a government facility, saying operations would resume there. It has yet to reopen.

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The Coronation Club Library, established in 1920 in Chawrongi area of Gopalganj town, was later moved to its own building near the Deputy Commissioner’s office and renamed Nazrul Public Library in 1968.

The then government allocated Tk 60,000 as a grant to set it up, while locals raised funds for two consecutive years.

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Over the years, it became a hub for book lovers and local cultural personalities.

GM Moinuddin, a teacher at Gopalganj SM Model Government High School, served voluntarily as librarian for over 57 years from 1962. He retired in 2019 and died in 2022.

His efforts enriched the library with many rare books from home and abroad, said BM Maria, who joined him as an assistant in 2017.

She said the library gradually declined because of financial constraints.

Three other librarians were later appointed but left after the authorities failed to pay their salaries, said Jahangir Kabir, treasurer of the library management committee.

The library was eventually shut down in 2024, he added.

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In October last year, the district administration moved the books to the fourth floor of “Somonnito Sarkari Office Bhaban” in the town.

Then Gopalganj DC Muhammad Kamruzzaman said the library would operate from the new location, citing poor maintenance of the books. He also said steps were under way to send old books to the National Archives.

The old building was later designated as an officers’ club.

“The then DC solely took the decision to relocate the library without discussing it with the committee,” said Jahangir.

ABM Azizul Haque, 45, a bibliophile, said, “Many of us have a lot of memories here. We don’t want the library to shift elsewhere.”

Contacted, Gopalganj DC Md Arif-Uz-Zaman said the books were being preserved properly and the library would resume activities at the new location.

The district administration was considering government monetary allocation for modernising it, he added.