The government has ordered the incorporation of library hours into class routines at the secondary level from this year.
It has also threatened to take action against the institutions and their heads for ignoring the directive.
Prof Dr Md Abdul Mannan, the director of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (DSHE), said: "We have to enforce the policy of adding library hours. We are going to encourage institutions to follow this rule. Any institutions not following the directive will be punished. "
Education Ministry sources say the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro proposed incorporating library hours in class routines to help enhance the students' capabilities and broaden their general knowledge.
The proposal suggested that during library hours, the students would read books outside their curriculum, participate in debates and poetry recitations, make wall magazines and conduct book - reading sessions.