Amar Ekushey Book Fair begins Friday

Staff Correspondent: The month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair- 2019 will begin on Bangla Academy premises and at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital tomorrow (Friday).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the traditional book fair on the Bangla Academy premises tomorrow.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on the academy premises around 3:00 pm tomorrow,” Dr Jalal Ahmed, director of Bangla Academy and member secretary of Ekushey Book Fair Committee, told a press conference today.

Bangla Academy, the organiser of the book fair, arranged the press conference at its office.

Dr Jalal said this year’s theme “Bijoy 1952-71: New Phase” will inspire the new generation with the spirit of Liberation War.

Bangla Academy director general Habibullah Siraji will deliver the welcome speech at the inaugural ceremony on the history of Bangla Academy and the book fair and different aspects of the festival with Bangla Academy president and national professor Anisuzzaman in the chair.

Indian poet Shankha Ghosh and Egyptian writer and researcher Mohsen-Al Aresi will be present as special guests, while acting secretary of the Ministry of Culture Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal will speak.

Noting that necessary security measures have already been taken with installation of more than 300 closed circuit television cameras in and around the Bangla Academy complex, he said the law enforcers will be deployed in a large number to ensure the foolproof security in the fair.

The book fair will remain open for all from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm on working days and 8:30 am to 9:00 pm on public holidays with a one-hour break for lunch and offering prayers. It will continue till February 28.

Booklovers can buy their desirable books on 25 percent commission from the fair.

A total of 770 stalls of publication houses under 24 pavilions will be set up in the book fair covering an area of 3 lakh square feet. Apart from this, there will be 155 stalls at Liton Magazine Chattar.

Bangla Academy will organise ‘Shishu Chattar’ this year where children along with guardians can enjoy ‘Shishu Prahar’ (children time) during the fair.

The authorities for the first time have launched the ‘logo’ of the fair, created by architecture Enamul Kabir Nirjhor, with the theme of the 1952 Language Movement.

A mancha (stage) for holding publication ceremonies and programmes on unveiling covers of the books has been set up at Suhrawardy Udyan, while discussions and seminars will be held every day at the main mancha installed on the Bangla Academy premises.

A separate gate will be set up for entrance of writers, litterateurs, poets and senior personalities of different sectors, including civil society members and dignitaries.

Two main entry gates have been erected at Teacher-Students’ Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University and Doyel Chattar.

Besides, there will be three paths on the Bangla Academy premises, while six entrance and exit routes at Suhrawardy Udyan.


risingbd/Dhaka/Jan 31, 2019/Yeamin/AI