PM to open Amar Ekushey Book Fair Feb 1

Staff Correspondent: The traditional month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair is all set to launch on February 1 at the Bangla Academy premises in the city, which will continue till February 28.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the book fair around 3:00pm on Thursday. She will also launch Wifi connection and website there.

The premier will also inaugurate the two-day International Literature Conference 2018 which will be held on February 22 and February 23 during the book fair.

The news was revealed in a press conference arranged by Bangla Academy on Tuesday.

Shamsuzzaman Khan, Director General of Bangla Academy, came up with the statement in the briefing.

Necessary security arrangements have already been completed with the installation of 250 closed circuit camera televisions (CCTVs) in and around the Bangla Academy complex, he said, adding that the law enforcers will be deployed in large numbers to ensure foolproof security.

The book fair will remain open for all from 3pm to 9pm on working days and 11am to 9pm on government holidays with a one-hour break for lunch and offering prayers. It will continue till February 28.

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

Director General (DG) of Bangla Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan will deliver the welcome address at the inaugural ceremony on the history Bangla Academy and the book fair and different aspects of this festival.

A total of 800 stalls including 670 book stalls, 150 stalls of little magazines and some stalls of different socio-cultural organizations will be installed in the book fair covering an area of 1.50 lakh square feet. Bangla Academy will publish 146 new books this year.

The authorities for the first time have included the Swadhinata Stambha (Independence Monument) at the Suhrawardy Udyan as part of the book fair.

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

A separate gate has been made for entrance of the writers and poets into the Suhrawardy Udyan.


risingbd/Dhaka/January 30, 2018/Hassan/A K Azad