To commemorate the historic language movement of 1952, Bangla Academy organises Amar Ekushey Book Fair at its premises and Suhrawardy Udyan every year, but a small number of books on language movement is published at the month-long fair.
Even though 2,038 new titles hit this year's book fair till Tuesday, only four books were on language movement.
Publishers and writers said that after Tapu's character in Zahir Raihan's unique work 'Ekusher Galpo’ (The story of 21) in 1970, no quality literature has been created on language movement.
Mazharul Islam, publisher of Anyaprokash Prokasani, told The Business Post, "Lack of research on language movement is the main reason for less number of books."
According to Bangla Academy, only four new books on language movement were published this year. These books are "Ekusher Lekha Ekusher Aka" written by Bhasha Shoinik (language veteran) Murtaja Baseer and published by Prothoma Prokashan, "Ekusher Vabona" written by Belal Chowdhury, "Bhasha Shohid Abul Borkot: Nepathya Kotha" written by Bodoroddoja Harun and published by Oitijjha Prokasani and "21st February International Mother Language Day" written by Gazi Hanif and published by Jhingephul Publication.
On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, the fair will open at 8:00 am today and close at 9:00 pm. Visitors can't enter the fair after 8:30 pm.
Like previous years, publishers and booksellers expect large crowd and huge sale on February 21.
However, a total of 99 titles hit the book fair on Tuesday.
At the programme "Lekhok Bolchi", Poet Athar Khan, Essayist Mostafa Kamal, Researcher Chawddhury Shohid Kader and writer and hill climber Akramul Hasan Shakil discussed their new books.
A discussion titled "Remembrance: Zamal Nazrul Islam" was held at the main stage of the fair on Bangla Academy ground at 4pm. Asif presented the article while Prof Abdul Mannan presided over the event. Subrata Barua and Arshad Momen also participated in the programme.
"Prof Zamal Nazrul Islam, despite being a great scientist, was very humble with a sincere and simple mind. He dreamed of advancing the country in the field of science. Our young generation should be inspired by Zamal Nazrul Islam's scientific consciousness," Prof Abdul Mannan said in his speech.
"Amar Ekushey Speech-2024" will be held at the main stage of the fair on Bangla Academy ground at 4pm on Wednesday. Bangla Academy DG Muhammad Nurul Huda will deliver a welcome speech while Bangla Academy president and fiction writer Selina Hossain will preside over the event. Amar Ekushey Speech will be delivered by eminent fiction writer Anwara Syed Haque.
