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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the traditional Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2022 on Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises virtually from Ganabhaban on Tuesday.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to start off the book fair tomorrow at 3:00pm virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban,” State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid told a press conference at Bangla Academy on Monday. Besides, the premier will also hand over the prizes among the recipients of Bangla Academy Literary Award-2021 at the inauguration ceremony.
Renowned writer and Bangla Academy President Selina Hossain will preside over the inaugural function while Bangla Academy director general poet Mohammad Nurul Huda will deliver the welcome speech.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages wished success of the ‘Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2022’ and greeted all, including Bangla Academy and local and foreign publishers, involved in arranging the ‘Amar Ekushey Book Fair’, BSS reported.
This year the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, which usually begins on the first day of February, will be held from February 15 to 28 due to Covid-19 situation, said KM Khalid.
However, there is possibility of extending the duration if the Covid-19 situation improves, he said, adding, “The ministry is awaiting the prime minister’s instruction on the matter as the rate of infections is coming down.”
“There was uncertainty regarding organising the book fair this year due to the pandemic. But the prime minister gave the green signal about holding the fair. The duration of the fair that is generally held from February 1 to 28 has been reduced to two weeks from Feb 15-28,” he said.
The construction of the stalls and pavilions at Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises will be completed by February 14, said Bangla Academy director general poet Mohammad Nurul Huda, adding, “We hope that publishers will be able to put books on sale at their stalls from tomorrow.”
The book fair will remain open for all from 2 pm to 9 pm on working days and 11:00 am to 9 pm on public holidays with a one-hour break for lunch and offering prayers, said Dr Jalal Ahmed, director of Bangla Academy and member secretary of Ekushey Book Fair Committee.
A total of 776 stalls have been allocated to 534 organisations. The authorities have allotted 142 stalls to 102 organisations for the Bangla Academy ground and 634 stalls to 432 organisations for the Suhrawardy Udyan.
Last year, a total of 834 stalls were allocated in favour of 540 organisations.
Moreover, a total of 35 pavilions have been allocated this year. Apart from this, there will be 127 stalls at Little Magazine Chattar, which had 140 stalls in 2021, and 155 in 2020.
The visitors have to strictly maintain the health guidelines on the fair premises. There will be arrangement for temperature test, hand washing and sanitising at all entry points, Jalal said, adding, “None will be allowed inside the fairground without face mask and sanitising hands.”
There will be strict security arrangements in and around the book fair venue to avert any unpleasant incident. Every nook and cranny of the 1.5 million square feet space of the fair venue will be under CCTV camera coverage, said Jalal.
The law enforcers will be deployed in a large number to ensure fool proof security in the fair, he added.
A 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 stage installed on the Bangla Academy premises. BSS reported.
A separate gate will be set up for the entry of writers, litterateurs, poets and senior personalities, including civil society members and dignitaries.
Besides, there will be two gates for entry and exit of the Bangla Academy premises while Suhrawardy Udyan will have four entry gates and three exit gates.
