The month-long 'Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2024' will begin on the premises of Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka Thursday.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the book fair at 3 pm on February 1," Member Secretary of the fair organising committee Dr KM Muzahidul Islam told a press conference held at Bangla Academy on Tuesday.
This year's theme of the book fair is "Paro Boi, Garo Desh: Bangabandhur Bangladesh (Read book, build country: Bangabandhu's Bangladesh).
Bangla Academy is organising the country’s largest book fair.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also unveil a book titled "Collected Works of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Volume 2" published by Bangla Academy apart from some new books and hand over the awards to the winners of Bangla Academy Literary Award-2023.
This year Bangla Academy published a total of 100 books, including new and re-edited books.
Bangla Academy Director General (DG) Mohammad Nurul Huda delivered a speech about the book fair and all its programmes, wishing the fair a grand success.
“Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela is our heritage and it is also an integral part of Bangalee culture,” he added.
He also paid his deepest respects to the martyrs of Language Movement.
In reply to a question from journalists he said, "The venue of the book fair will not be changed. The book fair will be held in association with Bangla Academy. During my tenure as Director General of Bangla Academy, I will try my best to hold the book fair here."
"If we don't get Suhrawardy Udyan next year due to its greening project, we will arrange it on the road which is in front of Bangla Academy. However, the fair will be held in coordination with Bangla Academy," he added.
A total of 937 stalls have been allocated to 635 organisations. The authorities have allotted 173 stalls to 120 organisations for the Bangla Academy ground and 764 stalls to 515 organisations for the Suhrawardy Udyan.
Moreover, a total of 37 pavilions have been allocated this year. Apart from this, there will be 170 stalls at Little Magazine Chattar.
Security will be beefed up in and around the book fair venue to fend off any untoward incident. A large number of archways have been also arranged at the entrance and exit of the book fair. Police, RAB, Ansar and various intelligence agencies will work for the overall security. More than 300 closed-circuit cameras have been installed in the fair area to ensure foolproof security.
This year is a leap year. So, the book fair will continue from February 1-29. It will remain open from 3pm to 9pm except holidays. During public holidays, the fair will remain open from 11 am to 9 pm. After 8.30 pm, no one can enter the premises of the fair anew. On February 21, International Mother Language Day, the book fair will open at 8am.
Bangla Academy Secretary Md Hasan Kabir, director of public relations-information technology and training department Somir Kumar Sarker, and Chief Marketing Officer of bKash Limited Mir Nawbut Ali, among others, were present at the press conference.
