Learn how International Literature Day was announced, why June 9 was chosen, and how writers and artists gathered to mark the global initiative today.
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| A moment from the weekly literary meet of Literature Omnibus. |
Writer, journalist, and entrepreneur Julius Choudhury has formally announced the establishment of International Literature Day. It will be observed each year on June 9. The day calls for a global celebration of the power, diversity, and social impact of literature.
The announcement was made on Saturday afternoon, June 21, 2025, at the Gazipur Media Center auditorium in Gazipur, Bangladesh. It took place during the first weekly literary meet of Literature Omnibus, which was widely attended. Writers, artists, and literature enthusiasts in attendance greeted the declaration with sustained applause. Many described it as a defining moment for a new international literary observance.
The literary session brought together a diverse group of cultural voices, including Lalon disciple, composer and lyricist Fakir Enam Sai; writer, journalist and researcher Saba Murtaz, co-founder of Literature Omnibus; retired marine engineer, poet, journalist, researcher, editor and publisher Mohammad Ahsan Habib; playwright and actor Musa Khan Rana; playwright, actor and journalist Sadekul Islam; poets Md. Mahabubur Rahman, Shah Sultan Atik, Shamim Mia, and Gazipur Media Center Director Md. Nasir Uddin, among others.
Julius Choudhury first proposed observing June 9 as International Literature Day during the founding meeting of Literature Omnibus on June 9, 2025. The announcement on June 21 formally advanced this proposal. The declaration establishes the date as an annual occasion to honor literature’s enduring role in shaping thought, culture, and human connection across borders.
Literature Omnibus is an open, inclusive, and creative literary initiative rooted in the ideals of artistry, imagination, and social responsibility. Organizers say its guiding philosophy is simple yet expansive: “Literature for Everyone, Literature for the Betterment of All.”
