Wednesday, May 08, 2024
The month-long “Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2024” began on the premises of Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital on Thursday. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the fair in person.
However, full preparation at the fair is yet to reach completion. Most of the stalls have not completed their full preparation till now. Besides, the security system has not yet been set. Visitors were seen entering the fair without checks.
Many publishing houses were seen working to complete their stalls, while some were busy putting finishing touches on decorations for their respective stalls. Some of the stalls also remained shut on the opening day of the biggest annual book fair in the country.
Nazim Uddin, who works in Ghasforing Prokashon, said, “Last Wednesday night's rain has prevented them from completing stall preparations.”
In addition, construction materials have not yet been removed from the fairgrounds, posing injury risks to un attentive visitors.
This year’s slogan of the fair is “Poro Boi Goro Desh, Bangabandhu’r Bangladesh.”
Bangla Academy Literary Award 2023
The Bangla Academy Literary Award 2023 was handed over to the winners at the inaugural ceremony. Publishing houses were asked in the fair guidelines to complete all the stall setup work and decorations before January 30.
However, many people were seen struggling to finish the job.
“We could not complete our work due to unforeseen circumstances,” said an attendant at Vorer Kagoj Prokashoni.
In addition, visitors complained that construction materials have not been removed from the fairground, which is posing a risk of injury and hampering public movement.
The organising committee for the book fair needs to be more active and careful about management, said Rakib Hasan, a final year student at the Political Science department of Dhaka University.
"The book fair authorities should have cleaned the fairground before opening it."
Farid Ahmed, proprietor of Somoy Prokashon, expressed his dissatisfaction with the management, saying, “It is unfortunate that the authorities concerned did not take effective steps to clean the fairground timely.”
Member secretary of the fair organising committee Dr KM Muzahidul Islam said, “We could not complete our preparations thoroughly due to some limitations. I hope that everything will be okay by Friday.”
The book fair covers around 11.5 lakh square feet area, which was the same in the previous year.
The kids’ corner of the fair has been kept at the right side of the Ramna Kali Temple similar to the last year, where children can roam freely and easily collect their desired books. The book fair authorities have allotted 937 units to 635 publishing houses and organisations.
In addition to that, there are 37 pavilions at the fair.
In the Suhrawardy Udyan and Bangla Academy premises, there are a total of 8 entry and exit gates beside the Teacher-Student Centre, Ramna Kali Temple, Doel Chattar, and the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.
Bangla Academy and publishing houses will sell the books at a 25 per cent discount. In addition, bKash users will get 10 per cent cashback, up to Tk 100, for online payments.
The book fair will be held from 3:00pm to 9:00pm every day except holidays. The fair will open its doors to visitors at 11:00am on holidays and at 8:00am on February 21. Visitors will not be allowed to enter the fair after 8:30pm.
Besides, the month-long fair will feature seminars and cultural shows every day at the main stage on the academy premises at 5pm.
