Information Advisor Mahfuj Alam has said the government will initiate the digitisation of Bangladesh’s oldest libraries, including the historic Rammala Library in Cumilla. He made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon while visiting the Rammala Library at Ishwar Pathsala Maheshangan in Kandirpar. Mahfuj noted that the Rammala Library is Bangladesh’s third or fourth oldest manuscript archive, holding one of the largest collections of ancient manuscripts after Dhaka University and Varendra University. He observed that many manuscripts were in a “deteriorating state”, making digitisation “essential” to preserve palm-leaf manuscripts and other rare books. According to the Rammala Library authorities, the collection currently holds more than 8,500 manuscripts and rare books, making it one of the oldest archives in the Indian subcontinent.
