A 10-day book festival featuring 16 renowned publishing houses is bringing a diverse collection of literature to students at Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET), as the university seeks to revive the habit of reading beyond academic studies.

Organised by the Directorate of Students’ Welfare (DSW), the festival, titled ‘Boi Utshob 2026’, began on 1 November and will continue until 10 November. The book stalls remain open daily from 10am to 8pm, allowing students and visitors to explore books across various genres.

Professor Dr Md Mashud, vice-chancellor of KUET, inaugurated the festival on 1 November. Deans of various faculties attended the ceremony as special guests.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the vice-chancellor encouraged students and visitors to purchase more printed books to help revive the culture of reading. He also expressed concern over the challenges facing publishing houses amid the growing popularity of digital books, which could affect their revenues.

He urged members of the university community to support the publishing industry by purchasing books and cultivating a stronger reading culture.

The initiative has received a positive response from students, many of whom see the festival as an opportunity to reconnect with reading outside their academic routines.

Rohon Sana, a student of KUET’s Mechanical Engineering department, praised the initiative for bringing books directly to the campus.

“The initiative to bring the books to us rather than us searching for books we are interested in is something commendable,” he said.

Labib Anjum, a student of the Urban and Regional Planning department, described the festival as a refreshing break from academic pressures.

“I felt alive. I don’t know the last time I read books other than my academic ones. It feels like a break from all the mathematical suffering,” he said.

With 16 renowned publishing houses participating, Boi Utshob 2026 offers students an opportunity to explore new genres, discover authors and reconnect with literature beyond their textbooks. The initiative also seeks to encourage a reading culture at a time when digital media increasingly competes for readers’ attention.