the Mayor Avdić, hosted students and professors from the Gazi Husrev-bey Madrasa

The Mayor of Sarajevo, Samir Avdić, hosted students and professors from the Gazi Husrev-bey Madrasa at the City Hall (Vijećnica). The guests had the opportunity to tour one of the capital’s most significant cultural and historical landmarks, which celebrates its 130th anniversary this year.

During the visit, the students learned about the rich history of Sarajevo, its cultural heritage, and key events from the period of the city’s siege and defence. A significant portion of the visit was also dedicated to understanding the work of city institutions and the decision-making processes vital to the City of Sarajevo.

Marking World Book Day

This visit was organized as part of the World Book Day celebrations, traditionally observed on April 23rd. Mayor Avdić emphasized the importance of this synergy: “Meetings like this provide an opportunity to send a powerful message about the importance of cooperation between educational institutions and the local community, especially regarding raising awareness of the book as an inexhaustible source of knowledge and life experience.”

The mayor added that he is particularly pleased by the numerous visits from young people across Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighting the importance of preserving cultural identity and nurturing the richness of diversity that forms the foundation of Bosnian society.

Preserving Truth and Memory

Following the tour of Vijećnica, the students visited the Sarajevo Information Centre, where they were introduced to the work of the Hague Tribunal and its contribution to transitional justice and the truth.

A special focus of the discussion was the tragic fate of the National and University Library, which was housed in the building until it was set ablaze during the war. Key points of the discussion included facts about the loss of the library and how it had been a faithful guardian of 2 million books before the collection were targeted and almost destroyed. It is estimated that only about 10% of the books were saved. Approximately 19,700 library units from the special collections were rescued. These items serve as vital witnesses to the history, shared life, and culture of the peoples in this region.