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Even though four days have passed, Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2024, the largest book fair in the country, drew more visitors on Friday and Saturday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the month-long book fair on Thursday. The fairground was opened to visitors after the inaugural ceremony around 5:00pm on the day. Though the organiser was disappointed by the low turnout on the inaugural day, the book fair was swarming with visitors on next two days (Friday and Saturday). Shishu Prohor (special hours dedicated to children) also made the fair vibrant.
But a different picture was seen on Sunday. The number of visitors on this day was less than the previous two days. Many bookstalls were empty on Sunday.
Shoan Salehin, a salesperson at Banglar Prokason, told The Business Post, "The last day was the fourth day of the book fair and it was a working day. For this, the number of booklovers at the book fair was very less compared to the previous two days."
Agami Prokasana Manager Amirul Islam said, "This year people flocked to the fair since the beginning. However, the number of visitors was less as yesterday was a working day. I hope that the number of visitors would increase day by day."
Bangla Academy organises the book fair on its premises every year. Thousands of booklovers from across the country throng the fair venue throughout the month of February to buy books.
However, a total of 66 new titles hit the book fair on Sunday.
At the programme of "Lekhok Bolchi", filmmaker and writer Tanvir Mokammel, writer of juvenile literature Banimadhob Sorkar, researcher Kajal Rashid Shahin and poet Faruk Ahamed discussed their new books.
A discussion titled “Remembrance: Kangal Harinath Majumdar" was held at 4 pm at the main stage of the book fair. Tapan Majumdar presented the article while Muntasir Mamun presided over the event. At the beginning of the programme, a documentary based on the life and works of Kangal Harinath Majumdar was screened.
"Kangal Harinath was a rebel and a spiritualist at the same time. The scope of his works was far-reaching. As a creative intellectual, he took initiatives for social reforms even from a marginal position," Muntasir Mamun said in his speech.
A discussion titled "Sesquicentennial Tribute: Mohammad Rawshan Ali" will be held at the main stage of the fair on Bangla Academy ground today.
